散(ち)る

ちる
verb (godan)
to scatter, to fall (leaves/petals)
1. to scatter, to disperse
To spread in different directions.
落(お)ち葉(ば)が散(ち)る。
Fallen leaves scatter.
人々(ひとびと)が散(ち)っていった。
The people dispersed.
紙(かみ)が風(かぜ)で散(ち)った。
The papers scattered in the wind.
2. to fall (leaves, petals)
For leaves or petals to fall from a plant.
桜(さくら)が散(ち)る。
Cherry blossoms fall.
花(はな)びらが散(ち)る。
Petals fall.
桜(さくら)が散(ち)ったあとの公園(こうえん)は静(しず)かだった。
The park was quiet after the cherry blossoms had fallen.

散(ち)る describes things scattering or falling apart, especially petals and leaves.

TRANSITIVITY:

  • Type: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive)
  • Pair: 散(ち)らす (transitive, to scatter something)

ASPECT (ている):
散(ち)っている indicates a state where petals/leaves have fallen and are scattered.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 桜(さくら)が散(ち)る: cherry blossoms fall
  • 花(はな)びらが散(ち)る: petals scatter
  • 落(お)ち葉(ば)が散(ち)る: fallen leaves scatter
  • 人(ひと)が散(ち)る: people disperse

CULTURE:
桜(さくら)が散(ち)る (cherry blossoms falling) is a significant image in Japanese aesthetics, symbolizing the transient beauty of life (無常(むじょう)). The phrase 散(ち)り際(ぎわ) (moment of falling) describes a graceful end.

RELATED:

  • 散歩(さんぽ): a walk (different kanji compound)
  • 散(ち)り散(ぢ)り: scattered about
general
Added 2026.1.9 21:48 · Revised 2026.2.21 13:44
02000/02075_chiru