布切(ぬのき)れ

ぬのきれ
noun
piece of cloth; scrap of fabric
spokenwrittenclothingdaily-life
1. piece of cloth; scrap of fabric; rag
A small piece or remnant of woven fabric, often left over from cutting or sewing. Can refer to anything from a useful remnant to an old rag.
布切(ぬのき)れで汚(よご)れを拭(ふ)いた。
I wiped the dirt with a piece of cloth.
余(あま)った布切(ぬのき)れで小(ちい)さな袋(ふくろ)を作(つく)った。
I made a small pouch from leftover scraps of fabric.
引(ひ)き出(だ)しの中(なか)に色(いろ)とりどりの布切(ぬのき)れが入(はい)っていた。
There were colorful scraps of fabric inside the drawer.

Compound of 布(ぬの) ('cloth; fabric') and 切(き)れ ('piece; cutting; scrap'). The suffix 切(き)れ attaches to material nouns to indicate a piece or remnant: 紙切(かみき)れ ('scrap of paper'), 木切(きぎ)れ ('piece of wood').

Usage

  • Commonly encountered in sewing, crafting, and household contexts.
  • Can be neutral ('a piece of fabric for a project') or slightly dismissive ('just a rag').
  • In fairy tales and folk stories, a humble 布切(ぬのき)れ sometimes turns out to be a magical garment or valuable heirloom.

Common collocations

  • 布切(ぬのき)れで拭(ふ)く: to wipe with a piece of cloth
  • 余(あま)った布切(ぬのき)れ: leftover fabric scraps
  • 小(ちい)さな布切(ぬのき)れ: a small scrap of cloth
  • 布切(ぬのき)れを縫(ぬ)い合(あ)わせる: to sew scraps of cloth together

Similar words

  • 端切(はぎ)れ: fabric remnant — specifically refers to leftover pieces from cutting fabric for sewing
  • 雑巾(ぞうきん): cleaning rag; dust cloth — a cloth specifically used for cleaning, typically made from old towels or fabric
  • 布(ぬの): cloth; fabric — the base material word without the 'piece/scrap' nuance
  • ぼろ切(き)れ: tattered rag — emphasizes the worn, shabby condition of the cloth

Related Words

Compare: 端切(はぎ)れ (fabric remnant)
Compare: 雑巾(ぞうきん) (cleaning rag)
Related: 紙切(かみき)れ (scrap of paper)
general
Added 2026.4.19 0:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
24000/24358_nunokire