Translation guide
The English verb 'distribute' covers several practical meanings: handing out items to people, supplying goods to stores, spreading something over an area, and sharing or allocating resources. This guide organizes Japanese expressions by these core uses, from most common to more specific.
To give something to each person in a group, often by hand.
The most common and natural word for handing out physical items to individuals, such as flyers, snacks, or documents.
チラシを配る
distribute flyers
お菓子をみんなに配った。
I handed out snacks to everyone.
More formal than 配る, often used for official distribution of materials, handouts, or free samples.
資料を配布します。
I will distribute the materials.
Literally 'scatter', implies distributing widely and somewhat carelessly, often used for money or flyers in a negative or casual sense.
Can sound like 'sprinkling' or 'throwing around', not neutral handing out.
選挙前に金をばらまく
distribute money before an election (with negative nuance)
To send products to retailers or customers, often as part of a business process.
Refers to the distribution of goods through a supply chain. Often used in business contexts.
新製品を全国に流通させる。
Distribute the new product nationwide.
Focuses on the physical delivery aspect, like shipping or transporting goods to stores or customers.
商品を各店舗に配送する。
Deliver products to each store.
Specifically means to sell wholesale to retailers. Common in business but narrower than 'distribute'.
To cause something to cover a wide area or be present in many places, like seeds, information, or weight.
Used for the geographical or spatial distribution of things like population, species, or resources. Often intransitive, but can be used transitively.
この植物は広く分布している。
This plant is widely distributed.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be scattered'. For transitive 'scatter', use 散らす (ちらす).
書類が机の上に散らばっている。
Papers are distributed (scattered) over the desk.
Means to diffuse or spread out, often used for gases, rumors, or information on social media.
情報がSNSで拡散された。
The information was distributed (spread) on social media.
To divide something like money, time, or tasks among people or groups.
The standard word for dividing and giving out profits, resources, or work among members.
利益を株主に分配する。
Distribute profits to shareholders.
Means to assign or allot a share, often used for tasks, budgets, or quotas.
仕事をチームに割り当てる。
Distribute tasks to the team.
Similar to 分配 but often implies a more calculated or proportional distribution.
予算を各部署に配分する。
Distribute the budget to each department.
配る is the everyday word for handing out physical items. 配布する is more formal and often used in official or business settings for distributing documents or samples. Use 配る in casual conversation.
会議で資料を配る（カジュアル） / 配布する（フォーマル）
Distribute materials at a meeting (casual / formal)
流通させる is specifically about the distribution of goods through commercial channels. Don't use it for handing out flyers or sharing snacks.
The wholesaler distributes goods to retailers.