Particles are provided which, in a connection portion that connects two members to be connected, can suppress the occurrence of cracking and peeling during a hot-cold cycle, can further suppress thickness variation in the connection portion, and can improve connection strength. These particles are particles used to obtain a connecting material for forming the connection portion that connects two members to be connected. The particles are used in order to form a connection portion such that the thickness of the connection portion after connection is less than or equal to twice the average particle diameter of the particles before connection, or, the particles have an average particle diameter of 1-300[mu]m, the particles have a 10% K value of 30-3000 N/mm2 and the particles have a particlediameter CV value of 10% or less.