Japanese word

拡散

Pronunciation

Romajikakusan

Meaning

  • nounspread

Example

情報が拡散します。jō hō ga kaku san shi ma su

Information spreads.

Illustration for 拡散 (spread)

More examples

その動画は短時間で広く拡散されました。so no dō ga wa tan ji kan de hiro ku kaku san sa re ma shi ta

The video was widely shared in a short time.

Core concept

Describes information, influence, or other things spreading outward from a narrow source to a broader area or audience.

Common phrases

  • 情報の拡散jō hō no kaku san

    spread of information

  • 交流サイトでの拡散kō ryū sa i to de no kaku san

    spread on social media

  • 拡散の防止kaku san no bō shi

    prevention of spread

Similar words

伝播denpa: The transmission of information, beliefs, or effects from one person or place to another.
波及hakyū: The spread of an effect from one area or group to related areas or groups.
普及fukyū: The spread of a product, idea, or practice until it is widely used or accepted.
流布rufu: The circulation of information or a story among many people.

Definition in Japanese

物事や情報が一部にとどまらず広い範囲に広がること。mono goto ya jō hō ga ichi bu ni to do ma ra zu hiro i han i ni hiro ga ru ko to

Word origin

拡 (kaku, "expand") and 散 (san, "scatter") are Sino-Japanese readings of the characters in this compound, linking the word to expansion and scattering.

Usage tips

  • A smell moving through air is an example of 拡散 (kakusan), showing that the word describes something spreading from a source rather than simply becoming larger.

Other meanings

  • disseminationnoun
  • scatteringnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 拡散性kakusanseidiffusivitynoun

Word lists with this word