Meaning and Usage
"紙屑" (かみくず) refers to small pieces of paper that are considered waste or trash. It is commonly used to describe scraps of paper that are no longer useful, such as torn or discarded sheets.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "紙屑" in everyday situations involving cleaning, recycling, or organizing papers. It is a somewhat informal term and can carry a slightly negative nuance, implying that the paper is useless or discarded.
Collocations and Patterns
- 紙屑を捨てる: to throw away wastepaper
- 紙屑が散らばる: wastepaper is scattered
- 紙屑をリサイクルに出す: to put wastepaper out for recycling
Usage Notes
When using "紙屑," speakers imply that the paper is no longer valuable or needed. Be careful not to confuse "紙屑" with "紙" (paper) or "書類" (documents), as "紙屑" specifically refers to waste or scraps. It is polite to separate important documents from "紙屑" when disposing of papers.