Japanese word

ばらまく

Pronunciation

Romajibaramaku

Meaning

  • verbscatter

Example

種を庭にばらまきます。shu o niwa ni ba ra ma ki ma su

I scatter seeds in the garden.

Illustration for ばらまく (scatter)

More examples

彼は町中に根拠のないうわさをばらまきました。kare wa machi naka ni kon kyo no na i u wa sa o ba ra ma ki ma shi ta

He spread baseless rumors all over town.

Core concept

Describes scattering things over a broad area so that they land separately rather than in one place.

Common phrases

  • うわさをばらまくu wa sa o ba ra ma ku

    spread rumors

  • デマをばらまくde ma o ba ra ma ku

    spread false rumors

  • 種をばらまくshu o ba ra ma ku

    scatter seeds

  • チラシをばらまくchi ra shi o ba ra ma ku

    scatter flyers

Similar words

撒くmaku: To scatter seeds, powder, or other small things over an area.
振りまくfurimaku: To scatter or sprinkle something widely across an area.
散らすchirasu: To spread things apart so that they are no longer gathered in one place.

Definition in Japanese

物を広い範囲に、まとまりなく散らす。mono o hiro i han i ni ma to ma ri na ku chi ra su

Word origin

The native Japanese verb ばらまく (baramaku) combines ばら (bara), expressing things spread apart, with まく (maku, "to scatter or sow").

Usage tips

  • Unlike the neutral English word "scatter," ばらまく (baramaku) can suggest spreading something widely and without much control, although it also describes scattering seeds.

Other meanings

  • spread aroundverb
  • distributeverb

Opposites

Related words

  • ばらまきbaramakiscatteringnoun

Word lists with this word