蔓延(まんえん)

まんえん
noun, suru verb
spread, proliferation (of disease, bad practices)
1. spread, proliferation, prevalence
The widespread spread of something undesirable, particularly diseases, harmful practices, or negative phenomena. Implies something spreading widely like a vine and becoming difficult to control.
感染症(かんせんしょう)が蔓延(まんえん)する。
The infectious disease spreads.
蔓延(まんえん)防止(ぼうし)対策(たいさく)を講(こう)じる。
To implement measures to prevent the spread.
汚職(おしょく)が社会(しゃかい)に蔓延(まんえん)している。
Corruption is rampant in society.
新型(しんがた)ウイルスの蔓延(まんえん)を食(く)い止(と)める。
To halt the spread of the new virus.

蔓延(まんえん) uses the kanji 蔓(つる) (vine), creating an image of something spreading like creeping vines that are hard to contain.

Usage:

  • 蔓延(まんえん)する (to spread, become rampant)
  • 蔓延(まんえん)を防(ふせ)ぐ (to prevent the spread)
  • 蔓延(まんえん)防止(ぼうし) (prevention of spread)

Commonly used with:

  • 感染症(かんせんしょう)/病気(びょうき) (infectious diseases/illness)
  • 汚職(おしょく)/腐敗(ふはい) (corruption)
  • 犯罪(はんざい) (crime)
  • 悪習(あくしゅう) (bad habits)

Note: Almost always used for negative things that spread undesirably.

Related words:

  • 拡散(かくさん)する: to spread, diffuse
  • 流行(りゅうこう)する: to be popular, epidemic
  • 横行(おうこう)する: to be rampant, run wild
general
Added 2026.2.2 0:17 · Revised 2026.2.19 21:32
09000/09460_manen