Translation guide
The English word 'scattered' describes things spread out over an area without order, or a state of being dispersed. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for physical scattering, mental distraction, and idiomatic uses.
Describing objects, people, or things that are not together but spread across a space, often messily or randomly.
The most common way to say things are scattered around. It implies a state of being spread out, often messily.
おもちゃが部屋中に散らばっている。
Toys are scattered all over the room.
Papers are scattered on the desk.
A more formal or written term for being scattered or strewn about, often used for debris or litter.
ゴミが道に散乱している。
Trash is scattered on the road.
Used when things are scattered but in a dotted, sparse pattern, like houses or trees across a landscape.
小さな村が山間に点在している。
Small villages are scattered among the mountains.
An onomatopoeic word describing things that are apart, separated, or scattered in a disorderly way. Often used with になる or にする.
チームがばらばらになってしまった。
The team became scattered (disorganized).
本がばらばらに置かれている。
Books are placed scattered about.
Describing a state where one's thoughts or attention are not concentrated, but spread thinly across many things.
Literally 'one's mind is scattered', this is the standard way to say you are distracted or unable to focus.
今日は気が散っていて、仕事に集中できない。
My mind is scattered today and I can't focus on work.
A more formal way to say one's attention is scattered or diffuse. Often used in written or evaluative contexts.
彼は注意が散漫で、ミスが多い。
His attention is scattered, so he makes many mistakes.
A noun or na-adjective meaning 'diffuse' or 'scattered', used for attention or thoughts. Often in compound phrases.
Referring to rain that occurs in isolated, spread-out areas rather than continuously.
Standard weather forecast phrase meaning 'rain in some places', equivalent to 'scattered showers'.
明日は所により雨が降るでしょう。
There will be scattered showers tomorrow.
Means 'sudden rain' or 'shower', often used for scattered, brief rain showers.
午後はにわか雨があるかもしれません。
There may be scattered showers in the afternoon.
Describing events, reports, or items that appear here and there, not continuously.
A na-adjective meaning 'sporadic' or 'scattered', used for events that happen occasionally and irregularly.
散発的な抗議活動が続いている。
Scattered protests are continuing.
散発的に銃声が聞こえた。
Scattered gunshots were heard.
An onomatopoeic adverb meaning 'here and there' or 'sparsely', often used for scattered occurrences or things appearing gradually.
Do not directly translate 'my mind is scattered' as 私の心は散らばっている. Use the set phrase 気が散っている instead.
気が散って勉強できない。
I'm too scattered to study.
散らばっている is the everyday word for things being scattered around. 散乱している is more formal and often used for litter, debris, or in written descriptions. In casual speech, stick to 散らばっている.
部屋が散らばっている。
The room is messy (things scattered).
海岸にゴミが散乱している。
Trash is scattered on the beach.
思考が散漫になる。
Thoughts become scattered.
ぽつぽつとお客さんが来始めた。
Customers started coming in scattered (one by one).