撒
scatter, sprinkle, give them the slip
Readings
On'yomi
- サン
- サツ
Kun'yomi
- ま.く
Meaning
撒 centers on dispersing something outward by hand: scattering, sprinkling, or throwing things around. The sense of giving someone the slip is a figurative extension of scattering oneself away from a pursuer.
Most common words using 撒
- 撒くまくN2
to scatter; to sprinkle; to strew
- ばら撒くばらまくN1
to scatter; to disseminate (e.g. a rumor); to spread (e.g. germs); to broadcast
- 撒き散らすまきちらす
to scatter; to spread
- ばら撒きばらまき
broadcasting (seeds); broadcast seeding
- 撒き餌まきえ
scattered animal feed; ground bait
- ビラ撒きビラまき
distribution of flyers
- 塩撒きしおまき
salt-throwing ceremony before the sumo bout
- 撒き水まきみず
sprinkling water (on the ground); sprinkled water
- 撒き菱まきびし
caltrop (spiked device scattered to maim infantry and horses); calthrop; caltrap
- 撒奇莱雅サキザヤ
Sakizaya (people)
- 撒布剤さっぷざい
dusting powder
- 水撒きみずまき
watering; sprinkling
Study
Etymology
撒 combines 扌 (hand) with 散, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of scattering or dispersing. The hand radical emphasizes the action of scattering by hand.
Meaning mnemonic
A hand 扌 scattering the right-side 散 (which itself suggests scattering) reinforces the image of throwing or sprinkling things outward.
Reading mnemonic
For サン, imagine scattering sand by hand: sand -> サン, and your hand scatters it everywhere.