Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
片言隻句 (へんげんせきく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
a few words ; a single phrase
yojijukugo (four-character idiom)
A yojijukugo meaning a very small amount of speech or writing; often used in contexts like 'without saying a word' or 'just a brief remark'. Literary and somewhat formal.
その 問もん 題だい に つい て 片へん 言げん 隻せき 句く も 触ふ れ られ なかっ た 。
Not a single word was mentioned about that issue.
Kanji 隻 vessels, counter for ships, fish 句 phrase, clause, sentence Similar words 一いち 言ごん 半はん 句く Similar meaning 'a word or two', but 片言隻句 emphasizes even fewer words, often in negative contexts.
片へん 言げん 隻せき 語ご Variant using 語 instead of 句; nearly identical in meaning and usage.
Etymology A yojijukugo composed of 片 (fragment), 言 (word), 隻 (one of a pair), and 句 (phrase). The combination emphasizes a minimal amount of speech.
