noun
cutting through cloth; sound of tearing cloth
Refers to the act or sound of sharply cutting or tearing fabric. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts.
裂帛の音が静寂を破った。
The sound of tearing cloth broke the silence.
noun
shrieking sound; loud scream; woman's scream
Describes a sharp, piercing cry, often likened to the sound of tearing silk. Can be used for a woman's scream or any high-pitched shriek.
彼女の裂帛の叫びが会場に響いた。
Her piercing scream echoed through the hall.
noun
cry of the lesser cuckoo
Specifically refers to the call of the lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus), known in Japanese as ホトトギス. The cry is traditionally compared to the sound of tearing cloth.
See also: ホトトギス
ホトトギスの裂帛が夜の山にこだまする。
The lesser cuckoo's tearing cry echoes through the mountains at night.
The bird whose cry is described by 裂帛; 裂帛 is the sound itself, while ホトトギス is the bird.
Compound of 裂 (retsu, 'tear') + 帛 (haku, 'silk'). The reading れっぱく results from rendaku voicing of はく to ぱく. The word evokes the sharp, high-pitched sound of tearing silk, which is metaphorically extended to screams and bird calls.