亀裂(きれつ)

きれつ
noun
crack, fissure, rift
abstract
1. crack, fissure
A narrow opening or split in a surface caused by breaking or splitting.
壁(かべ)に亀裂(きれつ)が入(はい)った。
A crack appeared in the wall.
地震(じしん)で道路(どうろ)に亀裂(きれつ)が生(しょう)じた。
The earthquake caused cracks in the road.
氷河(ひょうが)に大(おお)きな亀裂(きれつ)が走(はし)った。
A large crack ran through the glacier.
2. rift, division
A serious break or split in relationships, organizations, or unity.
与党(よとう)に亀裂(きれつ)が生(しょう)じた。
A rift formed in the ruling party.
夫婦(ふうふ)関係(かんけい)に亀裂(きれつ)が入(はい)った。
A rift developed in their marriage.
同盟(どうめい)の亀裂(きれつ)は修復(しゅうふく)不可能(ふかのう)なほど深(ふか)い。
The rift in the alliance is so deep it may be irreparable.

亀裂(きれつ) contains the character 亀(かめ) (turtle), referencing the cracked pattern on turtle shells. It's used for both physical cracks and figurative rifts in relationships or organizations.

Common collocations

Related terms

Related Words

Related: 溝(みぞ) (gap, gulf)
Related: 歪(ゆが)み (distortion, warp)
Related: 裂(さ)け目(め) (crack, split, fissure, rift)
Compare: ひび (crack)
Compare: ひび割(わ)れ (crack)
general
Added 2026.2.1 18:19 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
09000/09411_kiretsu