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切れ端 (きれはし) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

切きれ端はし

き

れ

は

し

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

fragment; scrap; cut-off piece

Refers to a small leftover piece after cutting something, such as cloth, paper, or wood. Often implies a remnant that is not the main part.

布ぬのの切きれ端はしで小ちいさな袋ふくろを作つくった。
I made a small bag from fabric scraps.
机つくえの上うえに紙かみの切きれ端はしが散ちらばっている。
Scraps of paper are scattered on the desk.

Written forms

切きれ端はしUsage77%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
切きれはしUsage17%
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; less common but still encountered.
きれはしUsage6%

Kanji

切

cut, cutoff, be sharp

端edge, origin, end

Similar words

かけら
かけら is a more general term for a fragment or broken piece, not necessarily from cutting. 切れ端 specifically implies a piece left over after cutting.
端は切ぎれ
端切れ is often used for leftover fabric pieces in sewing contexts, while 切れ端 can refer to scraps of various materials.

Etymology

Compound of 切れ (kire, 'cutting' or 'piece') and 端 (hashi, 'edge' or 'end'), with rendaku voicing of hashi to hashi. The combination yields the meaning 'cut-off end' or 'scrap'.