散る

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 散る, read ちる, is an intransitive godan verb for things falling away or scattering from one place.
• Basic usage: It covers petals falling and a gathered group scattering in different directions.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Intransitive change
  • In 桜の花が散った, the blossoms undergo the change themselves. Contrast this with transitive 散らす, in which someone scatters something.
• Inflected forms
  • The examples show past 散った and nonpast 散る. The small っ is part of the godan past form.