1.
one of a pair
One item from a matched pair, such as one shoe, one glove, or one earring.
靴下の片方がない。
One of my socks is missing.
片方の手で荷物を持つ。
I hold the luggage with one hand.
イヤリングの片方を落としてしまった。
I dropped one of my earrings.
2.
one side, one party
One side in a two-sided situation or relationship.
片方だけの話を聞いても判断できない。
You can't judge by hearing only one side of the story.
けんかでは片方だけが悪いとは限らない。
In a fight, it's not necessarily just one side that's at fault.
片方が賛成しても、もう片方が反対することもある。
Even if one side agrees, the other side may oppose.
片方 combines 片 (one of two) + 方 (direction/side).
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 片方の + noun (one of the pair of...)
- 片方だけ (only one side)
- 片方を失くす (to lose one of a pair)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 片方: one of a pair (general)
- 片: one (prefix, as in 片手)
- 一方: one side; on the other hand
- 両方: both (antonym)
USAGE NOTES:
- Often used for items that come in pairs: shoes, gloves, earrings, chopsticks
- Can also describe one party in a relationship or dispute