How to say "distribute" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 配るくばるgodan verb, transitive verbThe general verb for physically distributing things to a number of people: handing out flyers or handouts, delivering items, dealing cards. It pictures one giver and many recipients.
- 割り当てるわりあてるichidan verb, transitive verbCovers distribute in the sense of allocating: dividing tasks, money, or seats among people. In many contexts it is better rendered as assign or allot than as distribute.
- 割り振るわりふるgodan verb, transitive verbClose to 割り当てる, it means dividing something among a group and assigning each member a share or task, so it fits distributing duties or roles within a team.
- godan verb, transitive verbFor distribute in the physical sense of scattering: sending flyers out over a wide area rather than handing one to each person. It is usually written in kana alone.
- 分けるわけるichidan verb, transitive verbCovers distribute as dividing something into portions and sharing them out — splitting food or money among people. It focuses on the dividing itself, and often translates better as share.
Use 「配る」 for physically handing things out to many people, 「割り当てる」 and 「割り振る」 for allocating tasks or shares, 「まく」 for scattering flyers, and 「分ける」 for dividing and sharing something among people.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 配るくばるto distribute
- 割り当てるわりあてるto assign
- 割り振るわりふるto assign
- 配するはいするto distribute
- 分け与えるわけあたえるto distribute
- 取り分けるとりわけるto distribute
- 配すはいすto distribute
- 割り付けるわりつけるto allot
- まくto distribute (flyers, etc.)
- 分けるわけるto share
- 散らすちらすto disperse
- 分かつわかつto share
- 振り分けるふりわけるto divide (among)
- 流すながすto circulate (a rumour, information, etc.)
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
