Explore 片 in words for one side, a single item of a pair and a fragment. Context makes each reading easier to remember.

The idea

片 has four strokes; follow the linked diagram. Its reading depends on the word: 片方 is かたほう, 片道 is かたみち and 破片 is はへん. Learn each as a whole.

Patterns to compare
WordReading
片方かたほう
片道かたみち
片面かためん
破片はへん
片付けるかたづける

Examples

  • 手袋てぶくろの片方かたほうをなくしました。I lost one of my gloves.
  • 駅えきまで片道かたみちで十分じゅっぷんかかります。The one-way trip to the station takes ten minutes.
  • 紙かみの片面かためんに名前なまえを書かいてください。Please write your name on one side of the paper.
  • ガラスの破片はへんが床ゆかに落おちました。A fragment of glass fell on the floor.
  • 部屋へやを片付かたづけています。I am tidying up my room.
  • 彼かれは片手かたてにかばんを持もっています。He is holding a bag in one hand.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

片道 means one way, not half the distance. 片付ける means to tidy up; its meaning cannot be worked out simply as “one side”.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 片方 in hiragana.

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    かたほう

    片方 is かたほう: it refers to one of a pair, as with a glove.

  2. Write the reading of 破片 in hiragana.

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    はへん

    破片 is はへん: a fragment, such as a piece of glass. The compound uses へん.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿道（かたみち）［片／半］.

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    片

    片 completes 片道（かたみち）, a journey in one direction.

Use it today

Write 片 following the diagram. Cover the table, read 片方 and 破片 aloud, then make a sentence with 片道.