Translation guide
The act or process of spreading things or people over a wide area, or the state of being spread out. This guide covers common Japanese expressions for physical scattering, spreading of information, and the dispersal of crowds.
To describe the action of scattering seeds, dust, powder, or small items over an area.
General term for scattering or spreading small particles, seeds, or substances. Often used in technical or formal contexts.
The farmer scattered seeds over the field.
To scatter or sprinkle something loosely, often by hand. Can imply a careless or widespread distribution.
He scattered fertilizer in the garden.
To scatter or disperse things, often with a sense of messiness or disorder. Can also mean to distract or divert.
The wind scattered the fallen leaves.
To describe the dissemination of information, rumors, or knowledge to a wide audience.
Diffusion or spread, especially of information, rumors, or substances in a medium. Common in social media contexts.
The news was rapidly dispersed on social media.
Circulation or spread of information, often rumors or unverified news. Slightly formal.
Transmission or propagation, often used for diseases, cultural trends, or waves. Technical nuance.
To describe the breaking up and scattering of a gathering, protest, or assembly.
Dismissal or breaking up of a group, meeting, or organization. The most common term for dispersing a crowd.
The police dispersed the crowd.
To scatter or disperse (intransitive). Describes people or things spreading out in different directions.
To disperse and leave, often used when people are forced to leave or flee. Has a nuance of retreat.
To describe the spreading or scattering of light, sound, heat, or other forms of energy.
解散 (かいさん) is a transitive action of dismissing a group, often by an authority. 散らばる (ちらばる) is intransitive and describes the state of people or things scattering naturally or without a central command.
分散 (ぶんさん) means 'decentralization' or 'distribution' rather than physical dispersal. For scattering objects, use 散布 or ばらまく.
False information was widely dispersed.
Prevent the dispersal of the virus.
デモ隊は四方に散らばった。
The demonstrators dispersed in all directions.
嵐で観客は退散した。
The spectators dispersed because of the storm.
ストーブが熱を放散する。
The stove disperses heat.