断片(だんぺん)

だんぺん
noun
fragment, piece, scrap
1. fragment, piece, scrap
A small, broken-off piece of something larger, whether physical or abstract (such as information or memory).
記憶(きおく)の断片(だんぺん)をたどる。
To trace fragments of memory.
会話(かいわ)の断片(だんぺん)が聞(き)こえてきた。
I could hear fragments of conversation.
断片(だんぺん)的(てき)な情報(じょうほう)しかないので、全体(ぜんたい)像(ぞう)がつかめない。
Since I only have fragmentary information, I can't grasp the full picture.

断片(だんぺん) refers to a small piece broken off from something larger, whether physical or abstract. It combines 断(だん) (cut, sever) + 片(ぺん) (piece, fragment).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 記憶(きおく)の断片(だんぺん) (fragments of memory)
  • 情報(じょうほう)の断片(だんぺん) (scraps of information)
  • 会話(かいわ)の断片(だんぺん) (snatches of conversation)
  • 知識(ちしき)の断片(だんぺん) (bits of knowledge)
  • 断片(だんぺん)を集(あつ)める (gather fragments)

ADJECTIVAL FORM:

断片(だんぺん)的(てき) (fragmentary, piecemeal) is very commonly used:

  • 断片(だんぺん)的(てき)な情報(じょうほう) (fragmentary information)
  • 断片(だんぺん)的(てき)にしか分(わ)からない (only understand in bits and pieces)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 破片(はへん): physical fragments, shards (glass, pottery)
  • 欠片(かけら): a chip, a piece (often physical, but also figurative)
  • 断片(だんぺん): more often used for abstract concepts like memory and information
general
Added 2026.2.11 21:59 · Revised 2026.4.3 14:03
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