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ばらまく
baramaku
scatter
彼は選挙演説でビラをばらまいた。
He scattered flyers during his campaign speech.
general
to scatter or spread something widely, often in a careless or excessive manner
政治家は選挙区に選挙ポスターをばらまいた。
The politician scattered election posters throughout the district.
うわさをばらまくのはやめなさい。
Stop spreading rumors.
Often implies a lack of control or intention to reach a broad audience.
Pro Tip
Distinguishing ばらまく from 散らす
ばらまく emphasizes the act of scattering broadly and often carelessly, while 散らす can mean scattering in a more controlled or deliberate way. For example, 散らす might describe tidying up by scattering items, whereas ばらまく implies a less orderly spread.
Word Origin
From ばら (onomatopoeic for scattering) + まく (verb suffix indicating action). The compound verb emerged in the Edo period as a vivid expression for scattering seeds or objects.
Usage Notes
ばらまく is colloquial and often used in informal contexts. It can carry a slightly negative connotation when referring to spreading rumors or wasting resources.
Word Breakdown
ばら
onomatopoeic for scattering or spreading
rootまく
verb suffix indicating the action of spreading or scattering
suffix和英辞典