Translation guide
Describes things being spread out or scattered over an area, often in a disorganized way. Japanese uses different verbs depending on whether the focus is on the state of being scattered or the action that caused it.
Describing a state where objects are spread out or lying around in a disorderly manner.
The most common way to say things are lying scattered. It emphasizes the resulting state.
床におもちゃが散らばっている。
Toys are lying scattered on the floor.
A more formal or written term, often used for larger-scale or more chaotic scattering.
書類が机の上に散乱している。
Documents are lying scattered on the desk.
A shorter, more casual version of 散らばっている. Often used for small items like leaves or crumbs.
パンくずがテーブルに散っている。
Bread crumbs are lying scattered on the table.
Focusing on the action that caused things to be scattered, often implying someone or something did it.
Implies a messy, untidy state resulting from someone's action. Often used for rooms or spaces.
部屋が散らかっている。
The room is messy (things are lying scattered).
Used when something is scattered deliberately or widely, like seeds or leaflets. Often in passive form.
ビラが街にばらまかれている。
Leaflets are lying scattered around the town.
Similar to ばらまく but often for liquids, powders, or smaller particles. Passive form emphasizes the scattered state.
砂が道にまき散らされている。
Sand is lying scattered on the road.
Emphasizing that things are spread out over a large or extensive area.
Describes things scattered here and there over an area, like dots on a map. Neutral tone.
小さな村が山間に点在している。
Small villages lie scattered among the mountains.
Similar to 点在 but can be used for both concrete and abstract things. Slightly more formal.
古い寺院が町中に散在している。
Old temples lie scattered throughout the town.
散らばっている is the everyday word for things lying scattered. 散乱している is more formal and often implies a greater degree of disorder or a larger scale.
English 'lie scattered' often translates to a single Japanese verb in ている form. Do not try to translate 'lie' separately; it is part of the state description.