Onyomi: サン · Kunyomi: -ち.らす, ち.らかす, ち.らかる, ち.らす, ち.らばる, ち.る, ばら, ばら.ける · Meanings: disperse, scatter, spend, squander
Kanji for disperse, scatter, spend, squander
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The kanji 散 is built from the components 斬 and 攴. Long ago, 斬 showed a blade cutting something into pieces. When combined with 攴, the symbol of striking or urging action, the meaning became the idea of breaking things apart and sending them in different directions. It reflected scenes in ancient life where grain, leaves, or even troops would be scattered by force or movement. Over time, this combination came to represent the broader idea of scattering, spreading, or dispersing—things no longer held together, but cut apart and sent outward.
A blade cutting things apart (斬) combined with the action of striking or pushing (攴). Together they show the idea of breaking something up and scattering it outward.
Imagine chopping something into pieces (斬) and then striking it so the pieces fly everywhere (攴). That’s 散 — to scatter or spread things out.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 散 | ばら | loose articles (not packaged with other things), bulk items, individual items | Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 散歩 | さんぽ | walk, stroll | common JLPT-N3 JLPT-N5 Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 散らかる | ちらかる | to be in disorder, to lie scattered around | common JLPT-N2 Godan verb with 'ru' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 散らかす | ちらかす | to scatter around, to leave untidy, to make a mess | common JLPT-N2 Godan verb with 'su' ending, Transitive verb |
| 散る | ちる | to fall (e.g. blossoms, leaves) | common JLPT-N2 Godan verb with 'ru' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 散らす | ちらす | to scatter, to cause a shower of | common JLPT-N2 Godan verb with 'su' ending, Transitive verb |
| 散らし | ちらし | leaflet, flyer, handbill | common Noun |
| 散文 | さんぶん | prose | Noun |
| 散乱 | さんらん | dispersion, scattering, spreading out, diffusion | Noun, Noun or verb acting prenominally, Suru verb |
| 散会 | さんかい | adjournment | common Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |