欠片(かけら)

かけら
noun
fragment, piece, bit
1. fragment, piece, chip, shard
A small piece that has broken off from something larger. Used for physical fragments of glass, pottery, ice, and similar materials.
ガラスの欠片(かけら)に気(き)をつけて。
Be careful of the glass fragments.
氷(こおり)の欠片(かけら)がグラスの中(なか)で溶(と)けていた。
Fragments of ice were melting in the glass.
割(わ)れた花瓶(かびん)の欠片(かけら)を一(ひと)つひとつ拾(ひろ)い集(あつ)めた。
I picked up the shards of the broken vase one by one.
2. a bit, a trace, a shred
A tiny amount of an abstract quality. Almost always used in negative sentences to emphasize complete absence: 'not a shred of ~.'
反省(はんせい)の欠片(かけら)もない。
There isn't a shred of remorse.
彼(かれ)には良心(りょうしん)の欠片(かけら)もない。
He doesn't have a shred of conscience.
あの男(おとこ)の言葉(ことば)には誠意(せいい)の欠片(かけら)も感(かん)じられなかった。
I couldn't detect a single trace of sincerity in that man's words.

Writing

The reading かけら is irregular (熟字訓(じゅくじくん)). Also sometimes written in hiragana alone.

Etymology

Related to 欠(か)ける (to chip, to break off). A かけら is the piece that has broken off.

Usage

In sense 2, almost always appears in the pattern 〜の欠片(かけら)もない (not a shred/trace of ~). This is a strong negative expression emphasizing total absence. Common in criticism or complaints.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 欠(か)ける
general
Added 2026.2.23 21:19 · Revised 2026.10.6 22:27
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