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ばら撒く (ばらまく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
godan verb (-ku), transitive verb
scatter ; disseminate ; spread
usually written using kana alone
Used for scattering physical items, spreading rumors, or disseminating information widely. Often implies a careless or indiscriminate action.
Someone is spreading a strange rumor.
2
godan verb (-ku), transitive verb
distribute widely ; hand out freely ; spend recklessly
usually written using kana alone
Often used for distributing leaflets, money, or gifts in a generous or wasteful manner. Can carry a negative nuance of indiscriminate or excessive giving.
Written forms ばら 撒ま く Usage 20%
Standard mixed kanji-kana spelling; it is the primary form.
ばらまく Usage 69%
Kana spelling is common and matches usual-kana usage.
バラまく Usage 9%
ばら 蒔ま く Usage 1%
散ばら 蒔ま く Usage <1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
散ばら 播ま く
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
Kanji 撒 scatter, sprinkle, give them the slip 散 scatter, disperse, spend Similar words 散ち らす 散らす means to scatter or disperse in a more general sense, often with a focus on making things messy. ばら撒く emphasizes a wide, often indiscriminate distribution.
配くば る 配る means to distribute or hand out in an orderly manner, while ばら撒く implies a more haphazard or excessive distribution.
Etymology Compound of ばら (bara, 'scattered, loose') + 撒く (maku, 'to scatter, sow'). The prefix ばら is often used in mimetic or onomatopoeic words suggesting dispersion.
plant, sow
