広がる

• Reading: ひろがる
• Romaji: hirogaru
• Kanji breakdown: 広 (kou/hiro) — wide, broad, spacious
• Pronunciation: /hi.ɾo.ɡa.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To spread out; to extend; to stretch. Describes something expanding in area, scope, or influence.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb. The transitive pair is 広げる (to spread something). Used for physical spreading (fire, scenery, smell), abstract expansion (rumors, influence, knowledge), and emotional growth (dreams expanding). Very common and natural in both spoken and written Japanese.

Examples

1. 山の上から美しい景色が広がっていた。 A beautiful landscape spread out from the top of the mountain.
2. その噂はあっという間にクラス中に広がった。 That rumor spread throughout the class in no time.
3. 火事が風で隣の家まで広がってしまった。 The fire spread to the neighboring house because of the wind.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, news, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Derived from the adjective 広い (hiroi, wide). The がる suffix creates an intransitive verb indicating a spontaneous change of state — becoming wider or more expansive.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal