Translation guide
How to express 'scatter about' in Japanese, covering physical scattering of objects, spreading things around, and figurative dispersion.
To throw or drop small items so they spread over an area, like seeds, crumbs, or toys.
General verb for scattering small things like seeds, salt, or water. Often used for deliberate spreading.
庭に種をまいた。
I scattered seeds in the garden.
To scatter or strew things carelessly or in large quantities, like money, leaflets, or garbage.
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 leaves, papers, etc.
風が落ち葉を散らした。
The wind scattered the fallen leaves about.
To leave objects lying around in a messy way, like clothes, books, or toys.
To mess up a place by scattering things around. Often used for rooms or desks.
子供がおもちゃを部屋に散らかした。
The kids scattered toys about the room.
Describes the state of being scattered around. Intransitive, so it focuses on the result.
床に本が散らばっている。
Books are scattered about on the floor.
To cause a group to disperse in different directions.
To scatter or disperse a crowd, animals, etc. Often used with police or loud noises.
警察が群衆を散らした。
The police scattered the crowd about.
To chase and scatter, like shooing away birds or dispersing a group forcefully.
To spread or disperse non-physical things like light, rumors, or attention.
Can be used figuratively for scattering attention, light, etc.
気を散らさないでください。
Don't scatter your attention about.
To diffuse or spread widely, often used for information, rumors, or light in a scientific sense.
光が霧の中で拡散した。
The light scattered about in the fog.
犬が鳥を追い散らした。
The dog scattered the birds about.