ひび

ひ

び

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a physical crack or fissure in a surface, such as glass, walls, or skin. Often used with verbs like 入る (to form a crack) or できる (to appear).

窓まどガラスにひびが入

はい

っ

て

いる

。

There is a crack in the window glass.

乾かん燥そうで壁かべにひびができた。

Cracks appeared in the wall due to dryness.

2

noun

rift; split; crack (in a relationship)

usually written using kana alone

Metaphorical extension: a rift or strain in a relationship, friendship, or group. Commonly used in expressions like ひびが入る (a rift develops) or ひびを修復する (to mend a rift).

二人ふたりの友ゆう情じょうにひびが入はいった。
A rift developed in their friendship.
その事じ件けんで党とう内ないにひびが生しょうじた。
The incident caused a split within the party.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉にひびが入はいるa crack forms in something
花か瓶びんにひびが入はいった。
A crack formed in the vase.
〈事こと〉にひびが入はいるa rift develops in a relationship or bond
二人ふたりの関かん係けいにひびが入はいった。
A rift developed in their relationship.
ひびができるa crack appears
壁かべにひびができた。
A crack appeared in the wall.
ひびを修しゅう復ふくするto mend a rift
彼かれらは長なが年ねんのひびを修しゅう復ふくした。
They mended their long-standing rift.
ひびが広ひろがるa crack widens or spreads
そのひびはどんどん広ひろがっていった。
The crack kept widening.

Kanji

罅fissure, crack, hole

Related words

亀き裂れつ sense 1
亀裂 is a more formal or technical term for a crack, often used for structural or geological fissures, while ひび is the everyday word for a fine crack.
割われ目めN1sense 1
割れ目 describes a larger, more visible split or gap, whereas ひび usually refers to a thin, fine crack.

Don't confuse with

ひび sense 1
皹 refers specifically to painful cracks in skin caused by cold or dryness, while ひび is the general word that can describe cracks in any surface, including skin.

Word family

罅ひび焼やき
crackleware; crackled pottery

Written forms

罅ひびUsage100%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form. Learners should prefer the kana spelling.
ヒビ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling sometimes used for emphasis or in informal writing.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to the mimetic word ひびく (to resound), suggesting the idea of something spreading like a crack, but this is speculative.