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).
He lifted the luggage with one hand.
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).
It ended as an unrequited love.
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.
I cannot let my guard down even for a moment.
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.
He left the city and lives in a remote countryside.
Standard kanji spelling for this prefix.
The prefix 片 (かた) is of native Japanese origin, related to the noun 方 (かた, direction/side), indicating one side or partiality. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.
one side
one edge; one end; one side
one eye; one of one's eyes · blind in one eye; person blind in one eye
be put in order; be tidied up · be settled; be resolved; be finished · be married off
one side; single-sided
one arm · right-hand man; trusted assistant
potato starch · dogtooth violet starch
spare time; free time; leisure time
broken speech; halting language; baby talk; smattering
fragment; broken piece · accomplice; confederate; one of the same group · one of a pair; counterpart
one ear
remote countryside; back country
one parent · single parent
move; put elsewhere · tidy; put in order
single-edged; single bevel
one end of a palanquin pole; one of two palanquin bearers
dogtooth violet; Erythronium japonicum
a moment; an instant
one edge; one end; one side
unrequited love; one-sided love
univalve