How to say "diffusion" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 普及ふきゅうnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe spread of something becoming widespread or popular among people—knowledge, technology, products, customs. 'Diffusion' in the social sense, as in the diffusion of smartphones or of information throughout society.
- 発散はっさんnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbDiffusion in the physical sense of something being emitted or radiated outward—heat, gas, energy. Also used figuratively for releasing or venting feelings. Not for spreading ideas or products.
- 散乱さんらんnoun, prenominal modifier, suru verb, intransitive verbDiffusion as scattering or dispersion—light, particles, or things spreading out in disarray. Best for physics contexts like light scattering, or for a messy scattering of objects.
- 伝播でんぱnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe propagation or transmission of something from place to place—diseases, ideas, news, culture. 'Diffusion' emphasizing movement and spread from a source through a population or area.
- 伝送でんそうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbTransmission or dissemination of data, signals, or messages through a communication channel. 'Diffusion' here is really about sending information; for general spread, another word is usually better.
Use 普及 for spread of knowledge, products, or practices among people; 伝播 for transmission of disease, ideas, or news; 伝送 for data or signal transmission; 発散 for emitting heat or gas; 散乱 for physical scattering or dispersion.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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