Halting or incomplete speech; baby talk; a smattering of a language—speaking only a little or in broken phrases.
彼は片言の英語で道を尋ねたが、親切に教えてもらえた。
He asked for directions in broken English and was kindly helped.
赤ちゃんが片言で「まんま」と言った瞬間、両親はとても喜んだ。
When the baby said 'mamma' in baby talk, the parents were very happy.
旅行先で片言の日本語しか話せなかったが、なんとか注文できた。
I only spoke a bit of Japanese at the travel destination, but I managed to place an order.