Translation guide
In Japanese, the word for 'debris' depends on what kind of debris it is and where it came from. The most common general term is がれき, used especially for rubble from destroyed buildings. For scattered trash or litter, ごみ is used. For disaster debris like fallen trees and mud, 土砂 is common. There is no single perfect equivalent, so choose based on context.
The speaker wants to refer to broken pieces of concrete, bricks, wood, etc., typically after a disaster or demolition.
The most common and general word for rubble or debris from collapsed buildings. Often used in news about earthquakes or war.
地震で建物ががれきの山になった。
The building was reduced to a pile of debris by the earthquake.
がれきの下から生存者が見つかった。
A survivor was found under the debris.
Means 'fragments' or 'broken pieces'. More formal and can refer to smaller pieces of any broken object, not just buildings.
爆発でガラスの破片が飛び散った。
Glass debris scattered from the explosion.
The speaker is talking about garbage, litter, or small pieces of trash lying around.
General word for trash or garbage. Can be used for litter or debris in the sense of scattered waste.
公園にごみが散らかっていた。
There was debris (trash) scattered in the park.
Formal term for scattered objects or debris, often used in official reports or news.
事故現場には散乱物が多数あった。
There was a lot of debris scattered at the accident site.
The speaker is referring to debris from landslides, floods, or typhoons, including mud, driftwood, and rocks.
Refers to earth and sand, often used for mudslides or sediment debris from disasters.
豪雨で土砂が道路をふさいだ。
Debris from the heavy rain blocked the road.
Driftwood or fallen trees carried by water, often part of flood debris.
The speaker is talking about debris in space or floating on water.
Specifically 'space debris' or 'space junk'.
宇宙ごみが人工衛星に衝突する危険がある。
There is a risk of space debris colliding with satellites.
Floating debris or driftage at sea.
がれき implies large, heavy rubble from destruction. Using it for everyday litter like candy wrappers sounds unnatural. Use ごみ instead.
がれき is specifically for rubble from buildings or large structures. 破片 is for fragments of any broken object, like glass or pottery, and is more formal.
川に流木がたくさん浮かんでいる。
There is a lot of debris (driftwood) floating in the river.
海岸に漂流物が打ち上げられた。
Debris washed up on the shore.