片かた

prefix

one of a pair

Used as a prefix to indicate one part of a pair or set, such as 片手 (one hand), 片足 (one leg), 片目 (one eye).

• 彼かれは片かた手てで荷に物もつを持もち上あげた。

  He lifted the luggage with one hand.

prefix

incomplete; imperfect; fragmentary

Attaches to nouns to indicate something is partial, one-sided, or not fully realized, e.g., 片思い (unrequited love), 片言 (broken speech), 片時 (a moment).

• それは片かた思おもいに終おわった。

  It ended as an unrequited love.

prefix

few; little

Used in a small set of words to indicate a small amount or degree, such as 片時 (a short time) or 片鱗 (a glimpse). Not freely productive.

• 片かた時ときも油ゆ断だんできない。

  I cannot let my guard down even for a moment.

prefix

off-center; remote

Appears in a few words like 片田舎 (remote countryside) or 片隅 (remote corner), suggesting something away from the center or mainstream.

• 彼かれは都と会かいを離はなれ、片かた田舎いなかで暮くらしている。

  He left the city and lives in a remote countryside.

prefix

side; problem; question; matters

Found in the fixed expression 片が付く (to be settled, to be resolved), where 片 refers to a matter or problem. Not used independently in this sense.

See also: 片が付く

• その問もん題だいはようやく片かたが付ついた。

  The matter was finally settled.