Japanese word

広がる

Pronunciation

Romajihirogaru

Meaning

  • verbspread

Example

部屋にいい香りが広がります。heya ni i i kao ri ga hiro ga ri ma su

A nice smell spreads through the room.

Illustration for 広がる (spread)

More examples

教室に笑顔が広がります。kyō shitsu ni e gao ga hiro ga ri ma su

Smiles spread through the classroom.

床に紙が広がりました。yuka ni kami ga hiro ga ri ma shi ta

The papers spread across the floor.

Core concept

Describes something becoming broader or reaching across a larger area without an outside agent being the focus.

Common phrases

  • 香りが広がるkao ri ga hiro ga ru

    a smell spreads

  • 可能性が広がるka nō sei ga hiro ga ru

    possibilities expand

  • 部屋中に広がるheya jū ni hiro ga ru

    spread throughout the room

Similar words

広まるhiromaru: To become known to more people or used in more places.
拡大するkakudaisuru: To become larger in size, scale, or scope.
膨らむfukuramu: To grow fuller or larger in volume.

Definition in Japanese

物事の範囲や空間が大きくなり、周囲や遠くまで及ぶ。mono goto no han i ya kū kan ga ō ki ku na ri shū i ya tō ku ma de oyo bu

Word origin

The native verb 広がる (hirogaru) combines 広 (hiro, "wide") with がる (garu), a verb-forming element, and expresses a change toward a wider state.

Usage tips

  • English uses spread for both outward movement and causing something to move outward, while 広がる (hirogaru) describes the outward change itself without marking an agent.

Other meanings

  • expandverb
  • widenverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word