散らす

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 散らす is read as ちらす and is a godan transitive verb for scattering or strewing multiple items over an area.
• Basic usage: Mark what is scattered with を in 花びらを散らす, and the area with に in 机の上に色紙を散らす.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Natural cause and deliberate action
  • Wind scatters petals over a road, while people deliberately strew colored paper to decorate a venue.
• Contrast with intransitive 散る
  • 散らす has an agent scatter something; 散る is used when the items themselves disperse.