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こぼれ Japanese meaning | Kotomora

こぼれ

こ

ぼ

れ

○

Meanings

1

noun

nick; chip; scratch

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a small break, cut, or flaw on a surface, such as on a dish, blade, or edge. Often used in compound forms like こぼれ目 (a crack or flaw).

この茶ちゃ碗わんには小ちいさなこぼれがある。
This teacup has a small chip.
刃はにこぼれができてしまった。
The blade got a nick.

Kanji

毀break, destroy, censure

Similar words

欠かけ
欠け also means a chip or fragment missing from an object, but こぼれ often implies a smaller, more superficial flaw, while 欠け can refer to a larger missing piece.
傷きず
傷 is a general term for any wound, flaw, or damage, including scratches and nicks. こぼれ is more specific to small surface breaks on hard objects.

Etymology

Derived from the verb こぼれる (to spill, to chip). The noun form こぼれ refers to the result of chipping or spilling over, hence a small break or flaw.