How to say "scatter" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- godan verb, transitive verbFor scattering or sprinkling something so that it lands spread over an area — seeds on the ground, salt on food. This covers the 'sprinkle' and 'strew' side of 'scatter'.
- 散らすちらすgodan verb, transitive verbThe transitive verb for making things scatter — sending them out from where they are, or causing a shower of them, as with flower petals or sparks.
- godan verb, transitive verbScattering something far and wide, and figuratively disseminating it — spreading a rumor, spreading germs. The nuance is of something being strewn about all over the place.
- 追い払うおいはらうgodan verb, transitive verbReally 'drive away': chasing off people, animals, or pests so that they leave the place, which is also how it disperses or scatters them. Not the verb for scattering things about.
- 飛び散るとびちるgodan verb, intransitive verbIntransitive: the things themselves scatter, flying apart in all directions — sparks from a fire, droplets of water. Use it for what scatters by flying, not for the act of scattering something yourself.
Use 「まく」 for scattering or sprinkling something over an area, 「散らす」 for making things scatter, 「ばらまく」 for spreading something widely such as a rumor, 「追い払う」 for driving people or animals off, and 「飛び散る」 when things fly apart.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- まくto scatter
- 散らすちらすto scatter
- ばらまくto scatter
- 追い払うおいはらうto drive away
- 飛び散るとびちるto fly around
- 飛び去るとびさるto fly away
- 撒き散らすまきちらすto scatter
- 振りまくふりまくto scatter
- 雲散うんさんscatter
- 吹き散らすふきちらすto scatter
- 散じるさんじるto scatter
- 散ずるさんずるto scatter
- こぼれ落ちるこぼれおちるto spill over and fall
- 追い散らすおいちらすto drive away
- 飛ぶとぶto spatter
- 分かれるわかれるto disperse
- 散るちるto scatter
- 蹴散らすけちらすto scatter (a crowd, the enemy, etc.)
- ばらつきdispersion
- 落ちこぼれるおちこぼれるto drop
- 施すほどこすto sow
See also
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