破片
hahen[ha̠hẽ̞ɴ]
In Japanese, the English phrase 'pieces' is translated as 破片 (hahen).
破片 refers to physical fragments of hard, brittle materials such as glass, ceramics or metal.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 破, meaning 'break' or 'destroy' and 片, meaning 'fragment' or 'piece'.
Which one should you use?
While 破片 is used for physical shards, the term 部品 (ぶひん) is used to refer to components or parts in formal, technical or manufacturing contexts. For literary purposes, such as describing fragments in art or emotional expressions, the word 断片 (だんぺん) is used instead.
How do you pronounce it?
hahen
Did you know?
- In Japanese, there is a specialized term 金継ぎ (kintsugi) for repairing the 破片 of broken pottery with gold lacquer. This transforms the shards into a celebrated part of the object's history.
- When talking about a 'piece' of food, such as a slice of cake, Japanese uses 一切れ (hitokire) instead of any form of 破片, as the latter implies the food has been destroyed or shattered.
- The kanji 破 (break) is the same character used in the word 破産 (hasan), which means 'bankruptcy'.
Examples in context
- 彼女は割れた皿の破片を集めた。She gathered the pieces of the broken dish.This sentence is useful for showing how to describe gathering pieces of a broken dish using 破片.Tatoeba #90677 by tommy__san, translation #313035 by CK
- 彼はバラバラになった破片をつなぎ合わせた。He stuck the broken pieces together.This sentence is useful for describing the action of sticking pieces together using 破片.Tatoeba #2680022 by bunbuku, translation #291219 by CK
- 私たちは車の部品を供給しています。We supply car parts.
- このゲームは100個のピースから成ります。This puzzle game consists of 100 pieces.
- パズルのピースが行方不明です。Some puzzle pieces are missing.
- 彼は青空の断片のような詩を書いた。He wrote a poem like a fragment of the blue sky.
- これらの駒を組み合わせて漢字を作ります。Combine these pieces to make kanji characters.
- ガラスの破片に注意してください。Garasu no hahen ni chuui shite kudasai.Please be careful of the glass pieces.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are cleaning up a broken vase.
- 美咲 Misaki健太、足元に気をつけて。破片があるよ。Kenta, ashimoto ni ki o tsukete. hahen ga aru yo.Kenta, watch your step. There are pieces here.
- 健太 Kentaわかった。どこに落ちているかな。wakatta. doko ni ochite iru kana.I got it. I wonder where they fell.
- 美咲 Misakiあそこの机の下に小さな破片があるよ。asoko no tsukue no shita ni chiisana hahen ga aru yo.There are small pieces under the desk over there.
- 健太 Kenta大丈夫、全部拾ったよ。daijoubu, zenbu hirotta yo.It's okay, I picked them all up.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 破片, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
