破片|はへんhahen[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounfragment; broken piece; splinter; chip; shard
   彼かれはその破片はへんをくっつけ合あわした。↗

   He stuck the broken pieces together.

• SynonymかけらNeutralCommon in speech, where 「破片」 leans written; covers any small broken piece and also a mere trace, as in 「良心のかけらもない」.
• Synonym断片だんぺんWrittenWritten word for a fragment, mostly abstract, as in 「記憶の断片」; for pieces of something smashed, 「破片」 is the usual choice.
• Synonym砕片さいへんWrittenWritten word for shards or debris left when something is smashed; rarely seen in actual use.
• SynonymフラグメントWrittenA loanword for a fragment, used mainly in IT or academic contexts.
• Related細片さいへんWrittenWritten word for fine, tiny fragments; suggests smaller pieces than 「破片」 does.
• Related小片しょうへんWrittenWritten word for a small piece or bit; unlike 「破片」, it does not stress that the piece was broken off.
• Related割れわれNeutralA crack or a broken-off piece, and also dropping below a figure, as in 「定員割れ」; as a word for a fragment it is uncommon next to 「破片」.
• Related欠けかけNeutralA chip, or the bit that broke off, as in 「茶碗の欠け」; the stress is on the missing part rather than on scattered shards.
• Related削片さくへんWrittenWritten, specialist term for small chips that fly off when shaving wood or stone.
• Related端くれはしくれNeutralA small scrap or offcut; often self-deprecating, as in 「医者の端くれ」, so it leans toward the figurative, humble sense.

Use 「破片」 for pieces of something smashed, as in 「ガラスの破片」. In speech 「かけら」 is the everyday choice; 「断片」 fits abstract fragments; 「端くれ」 serves humble self-reference. 「割れ」 and 「欠け」 are everyday words used mainly in other senses; most of the rest are written.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 壊こわれたもののかけら。