広める・弘める|ひろめるhiromeru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
広める広める（ひろめる） is the most common written form; beginners should use it when writing this word.
弘める弘める（ひろめる） is a less common written variant of 広める（ひろめる）; you may encounter it, but it is not the first choice for beginners.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto spread; to propagate; to popularize; to disseminate
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto broaden; to extend; to widen; to enlarge
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 広める（ひろめる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 広めます（ひろめます） |
| Negative (nai) | 広めない（ひろめない） |
| polite (masen) | 広めません（ひろめません） |
| classical zu / nu | 広めず・広めぬ（ひろめず・ひろめぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 広めた（ひろめた） |
| polite (mashita) | 広めました（ひろめました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 広めなかった（ひろめなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 広めませんでした（ひろめませんでした） |
| Te form | 広めて（ひろめて） |
| Potential | 広められる（ひろめられる） |
| Passive | 広められる（ひろめられる） |
| Causative | 広めさせる（ひろめさせる） |
| Causative passive | 広めさせられる（ひろめさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 広めれば（ひろめれば） |
| tara | 広めたら（ひろめたら） |
| Volitional | 広めよう（ひろめよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 広めましょう（ひろめましょう） |
| Imperative | 広めろ（ひろめろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
噂を広める
広まる is intransitive and focuses on something like 噂 spreading on its own, as in 噂が広まる. 広める is transitive and focuses on an agent causing 噂 to spread, as in 噂を広める.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym散布さんぷWrittenWritten/formal: scattering or spraying (pesticides, etc.), and by extension spreading false news, as in 「デマを散布する」. 「広める」 is not used for scattering things.
- Synonym流布るふWrittenWritten/formal: doctrines or documents circulating in society, sometimes deliberate dissemination, as in 「虚偽情報を流布する」. 「広める」 is the more common word.
- Synonym拡大かくだいNeutralEnlarging scale, scope or images. 「広める」 centers on making more people know or broadening experience, as in 「見聞を広める」.
- Synonym言いふらすいいふらすCasualColloquial: spreading rumors by telling people around, usually derogatory, as in 「悪口を言いふらす」. 「広める」 is not limited to speech and can be positive or negative.
- Synonym言い散らすいいちらすNeutralSpreading a rumor here and there by careless talk, with a negative shade. 「広める」 stresses deliberately making more people know.
- Synonym触れ回るふれまわるNeutralGoing around announcing or proclaiming something; can be neutral notification or sound showy. 「広める」 does not imply moving from place to place.
- Synonym言い広めるいいひろめるNeutralSpreading word by mouth, trumpeting something about. 「広める」 is not restricted to speech — writing and actions work too.
- Synonym喧伝けんでんWrittenWritten/formal: trumpeting something far and wide with great fanfare. 「広める」 simply means letting more people know.
- Synonym撒き散らすまきちらすNeutralLiterally scattering things around; by extension spreading rumors, usually derogatory. 「広める」 works for both, as in 「知識を広める」 and 「デマを広める」.
- Synonym振りまくふりまくNeutralScattering or lavishing something around; the object is usually a smile or charm, as in 「笑顔を振りまく」 and 「愛嬌を振りまく」.
- Synonym宣布せんぷWrittenWritten/formal: formally proclaiming or announcing something widely. 「広める」 centers on popularizing and is not tied to formal occasions.
- Related広まるひろまるNeutralIntransitive: things spread or become widespread on their own. 「広める」 is transitive — someone actively works to spread them.
- Related宣伝せんでんNeutralPublicizing the merits of products, ideas or policies to the masses, often deliberately or with exaggeration. 「広める」 itself just means letting more people know.
- Related伝えるつたえるNeutralConveying or passing information to someone; the focus is on handing it to the other party. 「広める」 focuses on widening the circle of people who know.
- Related広げるひろげるNeutralUnfolding or expanding physical area or scope. 「広める」 centers on knowledge, fame or teachings becoming known to more people.
- Related放送ほうそうNeutralBroadcasting TV or radio programs, or announcements within a building. 「広める」 is not tied to any medium; its focus is popularization.
- Related押し広げるおしひろげるNeutralPushing forcefully to extend a space or range. 「広める」 centers on spreading knowledge or fame.
- Antonym狭めるせばめるNeutralAntonym: narrowing a range or width, as in 「視野を狭める」 — the opposite of 「広める」 expanding the scope.
- Antonym縮めるちぢめるNeutralAntonym: shortening or shrinking, as in 「距離を縮める」 — moving in the opposite direction from 「広める」's spreading and expanding.
Choose 「広める」 to spread knowledge, fame or teachings actively — 「教えを広める」 — and also for broadening experience, as in 「見聞を広める」. When something spreads by itself, use the intransitive 「広まる」. For spreading rumors by word of mouth, 「言いふらす」 is the colloquial pick. For physical spread or expanding area and scope, use 「広げる」 or 「拡大」; for publicity, 「宣伝」; for broadcasting, 「放送」; for formal proclamation, 「宣布」. The written 「散布」「流布」「喧伝」 suit formal prose.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
