ひび

noun

crack; fissure

1. crack; fissure; crevice

A thin line of breakage on a hard surface such as glass, ceramic, bone, or a wall. The object is damaged but not fully broken apart.

コップにひびが入(はい)った。

A crack formed in the glass.

壁(かべ)のひびを修理(しゅうり)してもらった。

I had the crack in the wall repaired.

転(ころ)んで骨(ほね)にひびが入(はい)ってしまった。

I fell and got a hairline fracture in my bone.

2. rift; strain (in a relationship)

A figurative crack in a relationship or bond between people. Describes a situation where trust or harmony is damaged, though the relationship has not completely ended.

二人(ふたり)の友情(ゆうじょう)にひびが入(はい)った。

A rift formed in their friendship.

些細(ささい)な誤解(ごかい)が積(つ)み重(かさ)なり、夫婦(ふうふ)の関係(かんけい)にひびが入(はい)り始(はじ)めた。

Small misunderstandings piled up, and cracks began to form in the couple's relationship.

Usage

ひび is most commonly used in the pattern ひびが入(はい)る (a crack forms). It describes damage that has not yet resulted in a full break — the object or relationship is weakened but still intact. Sometimes written in kanji as 罅(ひび), but the kana form is far more common.

Common collocations

ひびが入(はい)る (a crack forms; to crack)
ひびが入(はい)った皿(さら) (a cracked plate)
ひびを修理(しゅうり)する (to repair a crack)
骨(ほね)にひびが入(はい)る (to get a hairline fracture)
関係(かんけい)にひびが入(はい)る (a rift forms in a relationship)

Similar words

ひび: crack (thin line of damage, not fully broken)
割(わ)れ目(め): split, seam (a wider opening or gap)
亀裂(きれつ): crack, fissure (more formal; often used figuratively for organizations or alliances)

Related Words

Compare: 亀裂(きれつ) (crack, fissure (more formal)

general

Added 2026.3.4 14:58 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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