Translation guide
Describes something negative spreading widely and uncontrollably, such as disease, crime, rumors, or weeds.
Express that something bad is happening a lot and is hard to control.
Used for negative things like crime, fraud, or bad behavior that are widespread. Often seen in news reports.
この地域では詐欺が横行している。
Fraud is rampant in this area.
Common for diseases, but also used for undesirable things spreading like an epidemic.
感染症が蔓延している。
Infectious diseases are rampant.
デマがSNSで蔓延している。
Rumors are rampant on social media.
Often used for weeds, pests, or negative influences that spread and take over. Slightly more vivid and colloquial than 蔓延.
庭に雑草がはびこっている。
Weeds are rampant in the garden.
Literary and formal, used for evil or disease raging fiercely. Rare in everyday speech.
悪疫が猖獗を極めている。
A plague is rampant.
Describe vegetation spreading aggressively and taking over an area.
The most natural choice for weeds or unwanted plants spreading thickly.
空き地に雑草がはびこっている。
Weeds are rampant in the vacant lot.
Same as はびこっている but written with kanji. Often used for plants.
ツタが壁に蔓延っている。
Ivy is rampant on the wall.
Talk about gossip, beliefs, or emotions that are everywhere.
Neutral way to say something is spreading, not necessarily negative. Works for rumors, ideas, or trends.
変な噂が広まっている。
Strange rumors are rampant.
Emphasizes the negative, epidemic-like spread of rumors or bad ideas.
誤情報が蔓延している。
Misinformation is rampant.
Used for rumors, gossip, or words flying around actively. More vivid.
悪口が飛び交っている。
Insults are rampant (flying around).
横行 is for human actions like crime or fraud. 蔓延 is for diseases or abstract things spreading like an epidemic. はびこる is for weeds, pests, or negative influences taking over physically or metaphorically.
The katakana word ランパント is not commonly used in Japanese. Use the native expressions above instead.