How to say "shred" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 刻むきざむgodan verb, transitive verbCovers 'shred' as an action: to mince, chop or cut something fine, as when preparing food. Choose this when shredding is something you do with a knife rather than a result you describe.
- 断片だんぺんnounA noun for a fragment, scrap or shred of something physical — a torn piece of paper or cloth, a broken object. It refers to the piece itself, not the act of cutting.
- nounA shred or scrap in the figurative sense: a mere trace of something abstract, as in the smallest amount of truth, conscience or doubt. It is usually written in kana alone.
Use 「刻む」 for the verb of cutting into shreds, 断片 for physical fragments or scraps, and 「かけら」 for a tiny trace of something abstract such as truth or conscience.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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