Translation guide
Describes things being spread out or dispersed, often in a disorganized way. Covers physical scattering of objects, people, light, and abstract things like attention.
To describe small items like papers, seeds, or leaves being spread around a surface or area, often messily.
Intransitive verb meaning to be scattered or spread around. Often used for things like trash, toys, or leaves.
床におもちゃが散らばっている。
Toys are scattered on the floor.
机の上に書類が散らばっていた。
Papers were scattered on the desk.
Intransitive verb for petals, leaves, or light things scattering and falling. Often used for cherry blossoms.
桜の花びらが散っている。
Cherry blossom petals are scattered.
Formal or technical term for being scattered or dispersed, often used in scientific contexts.
光が散乱している。
Light is being scattered.
To describe people or animals being dispersed over an area, not staying together.
Also used for people spreading out, e.g., to search or play.
子供たちが公園に散らばって遊んでいる。
The children are scattered around the park playing.
Can be used for a crowd dispersing, often with a nuance of breaking up and leaving.
観客が散っていった。
The audience scattered.
To disperse or spread out, often with a purpose like reducing risk or covering an area.
警察が群衆を分散させた。
The police dispersed the crowd.
To describe mental focus or ideas being unfocused or spread thin.
Used metaphorically for attention or thoughts being scattered.
気が散って勉強できない。
My attention is scattered and I can't study.
A phrase meaning attention becomes scattered or diffuse.
疲れると注意が散漫になる。
When I'm tired, my attention gets scattered.
To describe things like houses, villages, or objects being spread out over a large region.
To be dotted or scattered here and there, often for geographical features.
小さな村が点在している。
Small villages are scattered around.
Similar to 点在する, but can also be used for abstract things like opinions.
湖の周りに家が散在している。
Houses are scattered around the lake.
散らばる emphasizes the state of being spread out messily, while 散る often implies falling or dispersing naturally (like petals). For physical objects on a surface, 散らばる is more common.
部屋にゴミが散らばっている。
Trash is scattered in the room.
花びらが散る。
Petals scatter/fall.
散らばる implies disorder. For things placed intentionally apart, use 配置する (はいちする) or 散りばめる (ちりばめる, to stud or intersperse).