片言(かたこと)

かたこと
noun
broken speech, few words of a language
language
1. broken speech, smattering of a language
Limited, halting speech in a foreign language. Describes the ability to speak only a few basic words or phrases, typically with poor grammar and pronunciation.
片言(かたこと)の日本語(にほんご)で話(はな)した。
I spoke in broken Japanese.
彼女(かのじょ)は片言(かたこと)の英語(えいご)で道(みち)を聞(き)いてきた。
She asked for directions in broken English.
片言(かたこと)でも一生懸命(いっしょうけんめい)伝(つた)えようとする姿勢(しせい)が大切(たいせつ)だ。
What matters is the effort to communicate, even in broken speech.

Usage

Almost always used with の to modify a language: 片言(かたこと)の日本語(にほんご) (broken Japanese), 片言(かたこと)の英語(えいご) (broken English). Not derogatory — it simply describes a low level of fluency and is often used self-deprecatingly or with sympathy.

Note on reading

Also sometimes read as かたげん in more formal or literary contexts, but かたこと is the standard modern reading.

Common collocations

Related Words

Antonym: 流暢(りゅうちょう) (fluent)
general
Added 2026.2.24 22:29 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13000/13463_katakoto