撒く

• Reading: まく
• Romaji: maku
• Kanji breakdown: 撒 (san/ma) — scatter, sprinkle, spread
• Pronunciation: /ma.kɯ/

Meaning

To scatter; to sprinkle; to spread around. Distributing something over a wide area.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb. Used for scattering or sprinkling: 水を撒く (sprinkle water), 塩を撒く (scatter salt), チラシを撒く (distribute flyers). Differs from 蒔く which specifically means sowing seeds. Often written in hiragana as まく. Common in both practical and ceremonial contexts.

Examples

1. 庭に水を撒くのが毎朝の日課です。 Sprinkling water in the garden is part of my morning routine.
2. 冬は道に凍結防止の塩を撒く。 In winter, they scatter salt on the roads to prevent ice.
3. 節分には豆を撒いて鬼を追い払う。 On Setsubun, we scatter beans to drive away evil spirits.

Usage Guide

Context: gardening, daily life, traditions

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 撒 combines 手 (hand radical) and 散 (scatter), literally depicting scattering by hand. A practical, action-oriented character.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal