Translation guide
The English verb 'scatter' covers several distinct situations: dispersing objects, people moving apart, light/sound spreading, and data distribution. Japanese uses different verbs for each, and the choice depends on what is scattering and how.
To throw, drop, or spread small items or particles loosely over an area.
General verb for scattering seeds, fertilizer, salt, etc. by hand or tool. Also used for sowing seeds.
To scatter widely or carelessly, often with a sense of spreading around. Used for money, leaflets, or objects thrown about.
彼はチラシを街にばらまいた。
He scattered flyers around the town.
To scatter or disperse things, often implying disorder. Can be used for scattering ashes, papers, etc.
風が書類を散らした。
The wind scattered the documents.
A group of people or animals separates and goes in different directions.
Intransitive verb for people, animals, or things dispersing naturally. Often used for crowds, petals, or leaves falling.
観客が散っていった。
The audience scattered.
鳥が一斉に散った。
The birds scattered all at once.
Intransitive verb for things or people being scattered around, often with a sense of being spread out over an area.
Formal/literary term for scattering in all directions, often used for crowds or enemies fleeing.
群衆は四散した。
The crowd scattered in all directions.
Light rays, sound, or other waves spread out from a source.
Scientific/technical term for scattering of light, particles, or waves. Used in physics.
光が霧で散乱する。
Light scatters in the fog.
To diffuse or spread out, used for light, smell, heat, or information spreading widely.
音が部屋中に拡散した。
The sound scattered throughout the room.
Data points, values, or items are spread over an area or range.
To be distributed or scattered across an area, used for populations, data, or natural phenomena.
データがグラフ上に広く分布している。
The data is widely scattered on the graph.
To be dotted or scattered here and there, often for physical objects like houses or trees.
村が山間に点在している。
Villages are scattered among the mountains.
まく implies intentional scattering by hand (seeds, salt), while 散らす often implies making a mess or dispersing things unintentionally. 散らす can also be used for scattering ashes or petals deliberately, but まく is more common for granular materials.
散る is intransitive and means 'to be scattered' or 'to disperse' (e.g., leaves fall, crowd breaks up). To scatter objects, use transitive verbs like まく or 散らす.
風が葉を散らした。
The wind scattered the leaves.
パスタにチーズを散らしてください。
Scatter the cheese over the pasta.
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.