Translation guide
A narrow opening or crack, especially in rock or a surface. Japanese distinguishes between natural rock fissures, small surface cracks, and gaps in man-made structures.
A deep, natural split in rock, a cliff face, or the ground.
General word for a crack or fissure in rock, earth, or other solid surfaces. Common and natural.
A thin, often superficial crack in a wall, pavement, or object.
Most common word for a fine crack or fissure in a surface like a wall, cup, or pavement. Often implies damage.
A tight space or gap in a building, fence, or other man-made structure.
The go-to word for any narrow gap or crevice in a structure. Very versatile.
割れ目 (wareme) is a crack or fissure, often in rock or earth. ひび (hibi) is a fine crack in a surface like a wall or cup, implying damage. 隙間 (sukima) is a gap or opening between things, not necessarily a crack. For natural rock crevices, 割れ目 is best; for structural gaps, use 隙間; for surface cracks, use ひび.
亀裂 (kiretsu) is a formal/technical term. Using it for a small crack in a teacup sounds unnatural. Stick to ひび for everyday cracks.
岩の割れ目に手を入れた。
I put my hand into a crevice in the rock.
地震で地面に大きな割れ目ができた。
The earthquake created a large crevice in the ground.
Similar to 割れ目 but often implies a longer, narrower split, like a tear or gash in rock.
崖の裂け目から冷たい風が吹いていた。
A cold wind was blowing from the crevice in the cliff.
Literally 'gap between rocks'. Used for spaces between boulders or rock formations, often where small animals hide.
トカゲが岩の隙間に隠れた。
The lizard hid in a crevice between the rocks.
Specifically a crack or fissure in the ground, often caused by earthquakes or drought. More technical or dramatic.
干ばつで農地に深い地割れが走った。
Deep crevices ran through the farmland due to the drought.
壁にひびが入っている。
There is a crevice (crack) in the wall.
茶碗にひびが入った。
The teacup got a crack in it.
A gap or narrow opening between objects, like a door and its frame, or floorboards. Not necessarily a crack, but often translates 'crevice' in man-made contexts.
床板の隙間から光が漏れていた。
Light was leaking through a crevice in the floorboards.
Formal or technical term for a crack or fissure, often used in geology or engineering. Can sound overly dramatic in daily conversation.
壁面に亀裂が生じている。
Crevices have formed on the wall surface.
戸の隙間から冷たい風が入ってくる。
A cold draft comes in through the crevice in the door.
彼は塀の隙間をすり抜けた。
He slipped through a crevice in the fence.
Can be used for a crack in a man-made surface like concrete, but ひび is more common for fine cracks.
コンクリートの割れ目から草が生えている。
Weeds are growing from a crevice in the concrete.