Translation guide
The English phrase "spread out" covers several distinct meanings: physically extending something flat, dispersing people or things over an area, expanding in size, and distributing over time. Japanese uses different verbs and patterns for each.
To open or unfold something flat so that it covers a larger area.
Transitive verb meaning to spread something out flat. Used for maps, blankets, newspapers, wings, etc.
地図を机の上に広げた。
I spread the map out on the desk.
鳥が翼を広げて飛び立った。
The bird spread its wings and took off.
Intransitive verb meaning to become spread out, to extend. Used when something spreads out by itself or as a result.
テーブルクロスがきれいに広がった。
The tablecloth spread out nicely.
To stretch out or extend something, often limbs or something rolled up. Can be used for spreading out a scroll or stretching out arms/legs.
彼は腕を伸ばしてあくびをした。
He stretched out his arms and yawned.
To cause people or objects to move apart and cover a wider area.
Intransitive verb meaning to be scattered, spread out. Used for people, objects, or information dispersing.
子供たちが公園に散らばって遊んでいる。
The children are spread out playing in the park.
書類が机の上に散らばっていた。
The papers were spread out all over the desk.
Transitive verb meaning to scatter or spread things out. Often used for scattering seeds, leaflets, or dispersing a crowd.
Intransitive; can also mean to spread out over an area, like a city or a stain.
To become scattered or separated; often used for groups of people spreading out in different directions.
観客はばらばらになって出口に向かった。
The audience spread out and headed for the exits.
To become larger in area or volume, often gradually.
Intransitive; used for abstract or physical expansion, such as influence, popularity, or a stain.
うわさがすぐに広がった。
The rumor spread out quickly.
Intransitive; to swell or expand, like bread dough, a balloon, or a budget.
Formal; to enlarge, expand, or scale up. Used for business, images, or scope.
事業を全国に拡大する計画だ。
They plan to spread the business out nationwide.
To arrange events or payments so that they occur over a period instead of all at once.
To divide or split into parts; commonly used for spreading payments or tasks over time.
支払いを数か月に分割してもらえますか？
Can I spread out the payments over a few months?
To distribute or decentralize; used for spreading risk, workload, or population.
リスクを分散するために投資先を広げた。
We spread out our investments to diversify risk.
To stagger or shift; used for spreading out schedules or appointments.
To extend one's arms and legs to relax, often taking up space.
Literally 'stretch out limbs'; used for relaxing by spreading out on a sofa or bed.
ソファで手足を伸ばして寝てしまった。
I fell asleep spread out on the sofa.
To lie spread-eagled, like the character 大. Casual and vivid.
疲れてベッドで大の字になった。
Exhausted, I spread out on the bed like a starfish.
広げる is transitive (someone spreads something), while 広がる is intransitive (something spreads by itself). Use 広げる when you are actively spreading a map or blanket; use 広がる when describing a view, a rumor, or a city expanding.
彼は地図を広げた。
He spread out the map.
目の前に美しい景色が広がった。
A beautiful view spread out before my eyes.
While 広げる means to spread out a flat object, it is not used for people dispersing. Use 散らばる or ばらばらになる instead.
芝生の上に毛布を広げて。
Spread out the blanket on the grass.
生徒たちは運動場に散らばった。
The students spread out across the field.
費用を6か月に分割できますか？
Can we spread the cost over six months?
The wind spread the fallen leaves out over the garden.
都市が郊外に広がっている。
The city is spreading out into the suburbs.
パン生地が膨らんだ。
The bread dough spread out (rose).
We spread out our vacation times to avoid crowding.