紙切(かみき)れ

かみきれ
noun
scrap of paper; slip of paper
daily-life
1. scrap of paper; slip of paper
A small or insignificant piece of paper. Can be neutral (a memo or note) or dismissive (implying something is worthless).
紙切(かみき)れにメモした。
I jotted it down on a scrap of paper.
ポケットから紙切(かみき)れが出(で)てきた。
A slip of paper came out of my pocket.
こんな契約書(けいやくしょ)はただの紙切(かみき)れにすぎない。
A contract like this is nothing more than a worthless piece of paper.

Composed of 紙(かみ) (paper) + 切(き)れ (piece, scrap). The suffix 〜切(き)れ indicates a small fragment cut or torn from something larger.

When used literally, it simply means a small piece of paper. When used figuratively — especially with ただの紙切(かみき)れ — it dismisses something (a document, certificate, or contract) as worthless or meaningless.

Common collocations

  • ただの紙切(かみき)れ: just a scrap of paper (dismissive)
  • 一枚(いちまい)の紙切(かみき)れ: a single piece of paper
  • 紙切(かみき)れにすぎない: nothing more than a piece of paper

Related words

Related Words

Related: 布切(ぬのき)れ (scrap of cloth)
Related: 端切(はぎ)れ (remnant, scrap)
Compare: 紙片(しへん) (scrap of paper)
general
Added 2026.4.5 11:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
22000/22090_kamikire