noun
cracked bell
Refers to a bell that has a crack, often implying a dull or imperfect sound. Used literally or metaphorically.
古い寺の破れ鐘は、鈍い音を響かせた。
The old temple's cracked bell rang with a dull sound.
彼の声はまるで破れ鐘のようだった。
His voice was just like a cracked bell.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; occasionally seen.
Abbreviated alternate kanji form; very rare.
鐘 is a general term for a bell; 破れ鐘 specifically means a cracked or damaged bell.
Compound of 破れ (ware, 'cracked') + 鐘 (kane, 'bell'). The reading われがね is a rendaku form of かね.