Japanese word

散る

Pronunciation

Romajichiru

Meaning

  • verbfall

Example

秋になると、葉が散ります。aki ni na ru to ha ga chi ri ma su

In autumn, the leaves fall.

Illustration for 散る (fall)

More examples

雨が降ると、庭のバラの花びらが散ります。ame ga fu ru to niwa no ba ra no hana bi ra ga chi ri ma su

When it rains, the rose petals in the garden fall.

Core concept

Shows something once joined to a whole becoming separate and moving away, as leaves drop or small pieces scatter.

Common phrases

  • 桜が散るsakura ga chi ru

    cherry blossoms fall

  • 花が散るhana ga chi ru

    flowers fall

  • 花びらが散るhana bi ra ga chi ru

    petals fall

Similar words

落ちるochiru: To fall from a higher position toward a lower one in a general sense.
散らばるchirabaru: To become separated and distributed across several places.

Definition in Japanese

花や葉などが、まとまりや付着していた状態を失って落ちる。hana ya ha na do ga ma to ma ri ya fu chaku shi te i ta jō tai o ushina tte o chi ru

Word origin

散る (chiru, "to scatter or fall") is a native Japanese verb; its stem 散り (chiri, "scattering or falling") appears in compounds such as 散り際 (chirigiwa, "the moment of scattering or falling").

Usage tips

  • For English speakers, 散る (chiru) is useful for natural things such as blossoms and leaves, while 落ちる (ochiru) covers falling objects more generally.

Other meanings

  • scatterverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 散らすchirasuscatterverb
  • 散り方chirikataway of fallingnoun
  • 散り際chirigiwamoment of fallingnoun

Word lists with this word