Translation guide
Describes something that spreads out over a large area in an untidy or irregular way, or a posture with limbs spread out loosely.
Describe a city, building, or complex that extends over a wide area, often in a disorganized manner.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to spread out' or 'to extend'. Commonly used for cities, landscapes, or views.
眼下に広がる大都市
a sprawling metropolis below
Na-adjective meaning 'vast' or 'extensive'. Often used to describe sprawling areas.
広大な敷地に建つ邸宅
a mansion on sprawling grounds
Colloquial i-adjective meaning 'sprawling' or 'overly spacious', often with a negative nuance of being too spread out.
だだっ広い郊外の住宅地
a sprawling suburban residential area
Describe a person's posture when their arms and legs are stretched out loosely.
Idiomatic phrase meaning 'to lie sprawled out' like the character 大 (big).
疲れてベッドに大の字になった。
Exhausted, I sprawled out on the bed.
Literally 'to stretch out one's limbs'. Describes relaxing in a spread-out posture.
ソファで手足を伸ばして寝ていた。
He was sleeping sprawled out on the sofa.
Verb meaning 'to lie down carelessly' or 'to sprawl'. Often implies a lazy or relaxed posture.
Describe something that grows or extends irregularly, like vines or messy writing.
Verb meaning 'to spread thickly' or 'to overrun', often used for weeds or undesirable things.
庭に雑草がはびこっている。
Weeds are sprawling all over the garden.
Also used for plants or stains spreading out.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'sprawling'. Choose the expression based on what is sprawling (city, person, plant, etc.).
床に寝そべってテレビを見る。
sprawling on the floor watching TV
ツタが壁一面に広がっている。
Ivy is sprawling across the wall.