広める
You can use 広める to talk about spreading information, ideas, or even products to a wider audience.
Explanation at your level:
Hello! Today we learn 広める (hiromeru). This word means 'to spread' something. Imagine you have a yummy cookie, and you give pieces to your friends. You are spreading the cookie! Or, if you tell your friends about a fun game, you are spreading the word about the game. So, 広める is like sharing something with many people so they know about it too. It's like making something bigger and known to more friends!
The verb 広める (hiromeru) means 'to spread' or 'to make something known to more people'. Think about sharing news or information. If you tell your friends about a new movie you liked, you are helping to spread the word about it. Companies use 広める to introduce their new products to many customers. It's about increasing the reach of something, whether it's an idea, a product, or news.
広める (hiromeru) is a verb that signifies the act of spreading something to a wider audience. It implies an active effort to disseminate information, ideas, culture, or products. For instance, a musician might use this verb to describe how they want to spread their music globally. Similarly, a government might aim to spread awareness about a new policy. It's a key verb for discussing communication, marketing, and cultural exchange.
In more advanced contexts, 広める (hiromeru) refers to the deliberate propagation or popularization of concepts, trends, or goods. It goes beyond simple sharing; it involves strategies to increase visibility and acceptance. For example, a political campaign aims to spread its message across the nation, or a tech company might work to spread the adoption of its new software. Understanding the nuances of 広める helps in discussing societal influence and market penetration.
The verb 広める (hiromeru) carries connotations of actively fostering the dissemination and popularization of entities, whether tangible or abstract. It encompasses strategic efforts in marketing, public relations, and cultural diffusion. Consider its use in academic discourse, such as efforts to spread research findings to a broader public, or in artistic contexts, where artists seek to spread their unique vision. The choice of 広める suggests a conscious intent to expand influence and reach.
At a mastery level, 広める (hiromeru) denotes the sophisticated process of propagating influence, ideologies, or cultural phenomena on a significant scale. It can be employed to describe the intentional dissemination of knowledge in academic fields, the strategic expansion of a brand's global footprint, or the societal impact of widespread social movements. Its usage often implies a calculated approach to shaping public perception and extending reach, reflecting a deep understanding of communication dynamics and cultural transmission.
Word in 30 Seconds
- 広める (hiromeru) means 'to spread' or 'popularize'.
- It's a transitive verb, meaning it actively spreads *something*.
- Used for information, ideas, culture, products, etc.
- Distinguish from 広まる (hiromaru - to spread on its own).
Hey there! Let's dive into the awesome verb 広める (hiromeru). It's a super useful word that basically means 'to spread' or 'to popularize'. Think about how a catchy song gets stuck in everyone's head, or how a new trend suddenly appears everywhere – that's the essence of 広める!
We use it when we want to talk about making something known to a wider audience. It could be anything from sharing news and information, spreading an idea or belief, promoting a product or service, or even introducing a new culture to others. The key idea is expansion and increased reach. It’s about actively taking something and making it more widespread than it was before.
So, whether you're talking about a rumor spreading through school, a company expanding its market, or a new scientific discovery being shared with the world, 広める is the verb you'll want to use. It’s a dynamic word that captures the process of growth and diffusion, making it a fundamental part of expressing how things become known and accepted by more people.
The verb 広める itself is derived from the adjective 広まる (hiromaru), which means 'to spread' or 'to become widespread'. The verb 広める is the causative form of the intransitive verb 広がる (hirogaru), meaning 'to spread out' or 'to extend'. So, 広める literally means 'to cause to spread out'.
The character 広 (hiro) itself has a long history, appearing in ancient texts. Its original meaning relates to 'wide' or 'broad', which perfectly captures the sense of expansion and reach that the verb conveys. Over time, as language evolved, the nuances of 広める developed to encompass the active act of spreading information, culture, and influence.
Think about how ancient trade routes helped to spread goods and ideas across vast distances. This verb encapsulates that very concept of extending reach. In Japanese culture, where community and shared understanding are often valued, the idea of spreading information or culture has always been significant. The verb 広める reflects this deep-seated concept of connection and dissemination.
広める is a versatile verb used in many contexts, both formal and informal. You'll often hear it when discussing the dissemination of information, the popularization of trends, or the expansion of businesses.
Common Collocations:
- 情報を広める (jōhō o hiromeru): To spread information. This is a very common usage. For example, 'The news spread quickly.'
- 噂を広める (uwasa o hiromeru): To spread a rumor. Be careful with this one, as spreading rumors can be negative!
- 文化を広める (bunka o hiromeru): To spread culture. This is often used when talking about introducing one country's culture to another.
- 名前を広める (namae o hiromeru): To make one's name known, to gain fame.
- 商品を広める (shōhin o hiromeru): To spread/promote products, to expand the market for products.
Register: 広める can be used in most situations. In very formal academic or business settings, you might encounter more specific verbs like 'disseminate' or 'propagate', but 広める is generally understood and appropriate. In casual conversation, it's the go-to verb for talking about spreading things.
Active vs. Passive: Remember that 広める is transitive, meaning it takes a direct object (the thing being spread). The intransitive counterpart is 広まる (hiromaru), which means 'to spread' or 'to become widespread' on its own. For example, 'The news spread' would be 情報が広まった (jōhō ga hiromatta).
While 広める itself is a straightforward verb, it appears in expressions that capture the essence of spreading and influence. Here are a few related concepts:
1. 風評を広める (fūhyō o hiromeru): To spread defamatory remarks or slander. This is a negative use, focusing on damaging someone's reputation.Example: 彼は悪意を持って彼女の風評を広めた。(Kare wa akui o motte kanojo no fūhyō o hirometa.) - He maliciously spread slander about her.
2. 口コミで広める (kuchikomi de hiromeru): To spread through word-of-mouth. This highlights a natural, organic way of spreading information, often used in marketing.Example: 新しいレストランは口コミで広まった。(Atarashii resutoran wa kuchikomi de hiromatta.) - The new restaurant spread by word-of-mouth.
3. 悪評を広める (akuhyō o hiromeru): Similar to spreading rumors, this specifically means to spread a bad reputation or negative reviews.Example: その店の悪評が広まっている。(Sono mise no akuhyō ga hiromatte iru.) - That shop's bad reputation is spreading.
4. 宣伝して広める (senden shite hiromeru): To spread by advertising or promoting. This emphasizes a deliberate, often commercial, effort.Example: 会社は新製品を積極的に宣伝して広めている。(Kaisha wa shinseihin o sekkyokuteki ni senden shite hiromete iru.) - The company is actively promoting and spreading the new product.
5. 知識を広める (chishiki o hiromeru): To spread knowledge. This is a positive and educational use of the verb.Example: 先生は生徒たちに新しい知識を広めることを目指している。(Sensei wa seitotachi ni atarashii chishiki o hiromeru koto o mezashite iru.) - The teacher aims to spread new knowledge among the students.
Pronunciation:
The standard pronunciation of 広める is /hi.ɾo.me.ɾu/. Let's break it down:
- ひ (hi): Like the 'hee' in 'he'.
- ろ (ro): A tapped 'r' sound, similar to the 'tt' in American English 'butter' or the Spanish 'r' in 'pero'.
- め (me): Like the 'me' in 'me'.
- る (ru): A soft 'roo' sound, often with the tongue barely vibrating.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet):
- British English: /hɪˈrəʊ.me.rʊ/
- American English: /hɪˈroʊ.meɪ.ɹu/
Common Pronunciation Errors:
- Pronouncing the 'r' sound too strongly, like an English 'r'.
- Not distinguishing clearly between the Japanese 'r' and 'l' sounds if coming from a language with those distinct sounds.
- Adding an unnecessary vowel sound after the 'u' at the end.
Rhyming Words:
Finding perfect rhymes in Japanese can be tricky due to the syllable structure, but words ending in '-omeru' or similar sounds might be considered near rhymes:
- 覚める (sameru): to wake up
- 染める (someru): to dye
- 止める (yameru): to stop
- 冷める (sameru): to cool down
- 畳める (tameru): to fold
Grammar Notes:
広める is a Group 2 verb (ichidan verb), which makes its conjugation quite regular. It takes a direct object marked by the particle 'を' (o).
- Present/Future Tense: 広めます (hiromemasu - polite), 広める (hiromeru - plain)
- Past Tense: 広めました (hiromemashita - polite), 広めた (hirometa - plain)
- Te-form: 広めて (hiromete) - used for connecting clauses or requests.
- Potential Form: 広められる (hiromerareru) - can spread
- Passive Form: 広められる (hiromerareru) - is spread
- Causative Form: 広めさせる (hiromesaseru) - to make someone spread
The verb 広まる (hiromaru) is its intransitive counterpart, meaning 'to spread' or 'to become widespread'. For example, 'The news spread' is 情報が広まった (jōhō ga hiromatta).
Fun Fact
The character 広 itself has been used for millennia to denote 'wide' or 'broad', reflecting a fundamental human concept of space and reach.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'hi-ROH-meh-roo', with the emphasis on the second syllable and a soft 'r' sound.
Sounds like 'hi-ROH-may-roo', with the stress on the first syllable and a slightly more pronounced 'r'.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the Japanese 'r' like an English 'r'.
- Over-emphasizing the final 'u' sound.
- Incorrect stress placement, making it sound unnatural.
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Generally easy to understand in context, but nuance requires practice.
Requires careful attention to transitive/intransitive forms and context.
Commonly used, pronunciation is relatively straightforward.
Frequently heard in various media and conversations.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs
広める (transitive) vs. 広まる (intransitive)
Verb Conjugation (Group 2 / Ichidan)
広める -> 広めます -> 広めた
Using Particles (を, に)
情報を<strong>広める</strong> (object marked by を), 世界<strong>に広める</strong> (destination marked by に)
Examples by Level
I 広める the picture.
I spread the picture.
Use 広める for actions you do.
Let's 広める the news!
Let's spread the news!
Use 'Let's' for suggesting an action together.
He 広める the song.
He spread the song.
Past tense: 広めた (hirometa).
She wants to 広める her idea.
She wants to spread her idea.
Use 'wants to' for desires.
We 広める the book.
We spread the book.
Use 広める for actions done by 'we'.
Can you 広める this message?
Can you spread this message?
Asking for help using 'Can you?'
They 広める the food.
They spread the food.
Use 広める for sharing physical items.
I 広める the smile.
I spread the smile.
Can be used for abstract things like smiles.
The company hopes to 広める its products overseas.
The company hopes to spread its products overseas.
Use 'its' for possession by a company.
She is trying to 広める awareness about environmental issues.
She is trying to spread awareness about environmental issues.
'Trying to' indicates an ongoing effort.
We should 広める positive messages online.
We should spread positive messages online.
'Should' suggests advice or recommendation.
He 広めた the rumor, but it wasn't true.
He spread the rumor, but it wasn't true.
Past tense: 広めた (hirometa).
This tradition has been 広められている for centuries.
This tradition has been spread for centuries.
Passive form: 広められている (hiromerarete iru) - is being spread.
Can you help me 広める this important information?
Can you help me spread this important information?
Use 'help me + verb' to ask for assistance.
The artist wants to 広める his unique style.
The artist wants to spread his unique style.
'Unique style' refers to a special way of doing things.
They worked hard to 広める their new technology.
They worked hard to spread their new technology.
Past tense: 広めた (hirometa).
The organization aims to 広める literacy in rural areas.
The organization aims to spread literacy in rural areas.
Use 'aims to' for goals.
His goal is to 広める Japanese cuisine worldwide.
His goal is to spread Japanese cuisine worldwide.
'Worldwide' indicates global reach.
The internet has made it easier to 広める information instantly.
The internet has made it easier to spread information instantly.
'Instantly' emphasizes speed.
They tried to 広める their political message through social media.
They tried to spread their political message through social media.
Use 'through' to indicate the medium.
The teacher 広めた the importance of recycling to her students.
The teacher spread the importance of recycling to her students.
Past tense: 広めた (hirometa).
This new trend is rapidly 広められている among young people.
This new trend is rapidly being spread among young people.
Passive progressive: 広められている (hiromerarete iru).
We need to 広める awareness about the risks of smoking.
We need to spread awareness about the risks of smoking.
'Need to' expresses necessity.
The company plans to 広める its business into new markets.
The company plans to spread its business into new markets.
Use 'plans to' for future intentions.
The documentary seeks to 広める understanding of different cultures.
The documentary seeks to spread understanding of different cultures.
'Seeks to' implies an objective or goal.
Misinformation can 広める rapidly through social networks.
Misinformation can spread rapidly through social networks.
Use 'can' to express possibility.
The government is investing in initiatives to 広める renewable energy adoption.
The government is investing in initiatives to spread renewable energy adoption.
'Adoption' refers to the acceptance and use of something.
He gained notoriety for 広める controversial opinions online.
He gained notoriety for spreading controversial opinions online.
'Notoriety' means being famous for something bad.
The philanthropist dedicated his life to 広める education among the underprivileged.
The philanthropist dedicated his life to spreading education among the underprivileged.
Past tense: 広めた (hirometa).
It's crucial to 広める accurate scientific information to combat pseudoscience.
It's crucial to spread accurate scientific information to combat pseudoscience.
'Crucial' means extremely important.
The festival aims to 広める local traditions and attract tourists.
The festival aims to spread local traditions and attract tourists.
Use 'aims to' for stated objectives.
The company's strategy involved 広める its brand presence through collaborations.
The company's strategy involved spreading its brand presence through collaborations.
Gerund form: 広める (hiromeru) used after 'involved'.
The initiative endeavors to 広める digital literacy across all demographics.
The initiative endeavors to spread digital literacy across all demographics.
'Endeavors to' is a formal way of saying 'tries to'.
Academic research often faces challenges in 広める findings beyond specialized circles.
Academic research often faces challenges in spreading findings beyond specialized circles.
'Specialized circles' refers to experts in a field.
The artist's intention was to 広める a sense of nostalgia through his evocative paintings.
The artist's intention was to spread a sense of nostalgia through his evocative paintings.
'Evocative' means bringing strong images or feelings to mind.
To combat the spread of harmful ideologies, it is imperative to 広める critical thinking skills.
To combat the spread of harmful ideologies, it is imperative to spread critical thinking skills.
'Imperative' means absolutely necessary.
The diplomat worked tirelessly to 広める mutual understanding between the two nations.
The diplomat worked tirelessly to spread mutual understanding between the two nations.
Past tense: 広めた (hirometa).
The success of the campaign relied heavily on its ability to 広める the message virally.
The success of the campaign relied heavily on its ability to spread the message virally.
'Virally' means spreading extremely quickly, like a virus.
The historical society strives to 広める awareness of local heritage.
The historical society strives to spread awareness of local heritage.
'Strives to' means makes great efforts to.
The company leveraged social media platforms to 広める its new product line globally.
The company leveraged social media platforms to spread its new product line globally.
'Leveraged' means used effectively.
The philosopher's treatise aimed to 広める a paradigm shift in ethical thought.
The philosopher's treatise aimed to spread a paradigm shift in ethical thought.
'Paradigm shift' means a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.
Cultural anthropologists study the mechanisms by which traditions are 広められ, adapted, and maintained across generations.
Cultural anthropologists study the mechanisms by which traditions are spread, adapted, and maintained across generations.
Passive form: 広められ (hiromerare) - are spread (literary/formal passive).
The proliferation of digital media has exponentially increased the capacity to 広める both factual information and deliberate disinformation.
The proliferation of digital media has exponentially increased the capacity to spread both factual information and deliberate disinformation.
'Proliferation' means rapid increase in numbers.
His seminal work succeeded in 広める a new methodology within the scientific community.
His seminal work succeeded in spreading a new methodology within the scientific community.
'Seminal' means highly original and influential.
The objective was not merely to 広める the product, but to cultivate a brand ethos that resonated deeply.
The objective was not merely to spread the product, but to cultivate a brand ethos that resonated deeply.
'Ethos' refers to the characteristic spirit or guiding beliefs.
The historical narrative sought to 広める a particular interpretation of events, shaping national identity.
The historical narrative sought to spread a particular interpretation of events, shaping national identity.
Past tense: 広めた (hirometa).
Effective public health campaigns must strategically 広める preventative health behaviors.
Effective public health campaigns must strategically spread preventative health behaviors.
'Preventative' means designed to stop something from happening.
The globalization of culture involves the complex interplay of forces that 広める and homogenize local customs.
The globalization of culture involves the complex interplay of forces that spread and homogenize local customs.
'Homogenize' means to make uniform or similar.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"風評を広める"
To spread defamatory remarks or slander; to damage someone's reputation through rumors.
彼は意図的に彼女の<strong>風評を広めた</strong>。(Kare wa ito-teki ni kanojo no <strong>fūhyō o hirometa</strong>.) - He intentionally <strong>spread slander</strong> about her.
neutral/negative"口コミで広める"
To spread through word-of-mouth; organic spreading of information.
その店の評判は<strong>口コミで広まった</strong>。(Sono mise no hyōban wa <strong>kuchikomi de hiromatta</strong>.) - The restaurant's reputation <strong>spread by word-of-mouth</strong>.
neutral/marketing"悪評を広める"
To spread a bad reputation; to circulate negative reviews or gossip.
ネット上で<strong>悪評を広める</strong>人がいる。(Netto-jō de <strong>akuhyō o hiromeru</strong> hito ga iru.) - There are people who <strong>spread bad reputations</strong> online.
neutral/negative"名を広める"
To make one's name known; to gain fame or recognition.
彼は芸術を通じて<strong>名を広めよう</strong>とした。(Kare wa geijutsu o tsūjite <strong>na o hirome yō</strong> to shita.) - He tried <strong>to make a name for himself</strong> through art.
neutral"知識を広める"
To spread knowledge; to educate or inform others.
教育者は常に<strong>知識を広める</strong>ことに努めている。(Kyōikusha wa tsuneni <strong>chishiki o hiromeru</strong> koto ni tsutomete iru.) - Educators always strive <strong>to spread knowledge</strong>.
neutral/positive"世に広める"
To spread to the world; to make widely known.
この発見を<strong>世に広める</strong>ことが私の使命です。(Kono hakken o <strong>yo ni hiromeru</strong> koto ga watashi no shimei desu.) - It is my mission <strong>to spread</strong> this discovery <strong>to the world</strong>.
formal/literaryEasily Confused
Both relate to spreading.
広まる is intransitive (no direct object, happens on its own), e.g., 'The fire spread.' (火事が広まった). 広める is transitive (takes an object), meaning 'to actively spread something', e.g., 'He spread the fire.' (彼は火を広めた).
噂が<strong>広まった</strong>。(Uwasa ga <strong>hiromatta</strong>.) - The rumor <strong>spread</strong>. vs. 彼は噂を<strong>広めた</strong>。(Kare wa uwasa o <strong>hirometa</strong>.) - He <strong>spread</strong> the rumor.
Both involve passing information.
伝える means 'to convey' or 'transmit' from one point to another (person A to person B). 広める means to spread that information to a wider audience.
先生が私に宿題を<strong>伝えた</strong>。(Sensei ga watashi ni shukudai o <strong>tsutaeta</strong>.) - The teacher <strong>told</strong> me the homework. vs. 先生は宿題について生徒に<strong>広めた</strong>。(Sensei wa shukudai ni tsuite seitō ni <strong>hirometa</strong>.) - The teacher <strong>spread</strong> information about the homework to the students.
Both relate to making something known, often commercially.
宣伝する specifically means 'to advertise' or 'promote', focusing on marketing and publicity. 広める is broader and can apply to non-commercial contexts like spreading ideas or culture.
この映画を<strong>宣伝する</strong>。(Kono eiga o <strong>senden suru</strong>.) - To <strong>advertise</strong> this movie. vs. この映画の面白さを<strong>広める</strong>。(Kono eiga no omoshirosa o <strong>hiromeru</strong>.) - To <strong>spread</strong> how interesting this movie is.
Both mean 'to spread' or 'become widespread'.
普及する often implies widespread adoption, especially of technology, knowledge, or practices, often with a sense of benefit or normalization. 広める is more general about the act of spreading.
スマートフォンが世界中に<strong>普及した</strong>。(Sumātofon ga sekaijū ni <strong>fukyū shita</strong>.) - Smartphones <strong>became widespread</strong> globally. vs. 彼はスマートフォンの利便性を人々に<strong>広めた</strong>。(Kare wa sumātofon no ribensei o hitobito ni <strong>hirometa</strong>.) - He <strong>spread</strong> the convenience of smartphones to people.
Sentence Patterns
Noun + を + 広める
私たちはこの情報を<strong>広める</strong>必要がある。(Watashitachi wa kono jōhō o <strong>hiromeru</strong> hitsuyō ga aru.) - We need <strong>to spread</strong> this information.
Verb (plain form) + ように + 広める
多くの人に知られる<strong>ように広めた</strong>。(Ōku no hito ni shirareru <strong>yō ni hirometa</strong>.) - I <strong>spread</strong> it <strong>so that</strong> it would be known by many people.
Noun + を + 広める + ために
健康を<strong>広めるために</strong>、講演会を開いた。(Kenkō o <strong>hiromeru tame ni</strong>, kōenkai o hiraita.) - To <strong>spread</strong> health, a lecture was held.
Adverb + 広める
彼は積極的に新しいアイデアを<strong>広めている</strong>。(Kare wa sekkyokuteki ni atarashii aidea o <strong>hiromete iru</strong>.) - He is actively <strong>spreading</strong> new ideas.
Noun + が + 広まる (intransitive counterpart)
その噂が町中に<strong>広まった</strong>。(Sono uwasa ga machijū ni <strong>hiromatta</strong>.) - That rumor <strong>spread</strong> throughout the town.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
広める is transitive (takes an object), meaning 'to spread something'. 広まる is intransitive, meaning 'to spread' or 'become widespread' on its own. If no one is actively spreading it, use 広まる.
伝える means 'to convey' or 'to transmit' information from one point to another. 広める means to spread it to a wider audience.
教える (oshieru) means 'to teach'. 広める is about spreading something that already exists.
Remember that 広める is a Group 2 verb. The polite present tense is 広めます (hiromemasu), not 広めるます.
宣伝する (senden suru) specifically means 'to advertise' or 'to promote', especially in a commercial context. While advertising helps spread something, 宣伝する is more precise.
Tips
Hero Mail Memory Trick
Remember 'Hiro' (広) sounds like 'Hero', and 'meru' sounds like 'mail'. Imagine a hero mailing letters everywhere to spread news!
Active Spreading
Always think: Is someone *actively* making this spread? If yes, use 広める. If it's just happening on its own, use 広まる (hiromaru).
Positive vs. Negative Spread
While 広める can be neutral, contexts like spreading knowledge or culture are positive, while spreading rumors are negative. Be aware of the connotation.
Transitive Verb Rule
Remember 広める takes a direct object (marked by を). It's about spreading *something*.
Soft 'R' Sound
Practice the Japanese 'r' sound – it's a quick tap of the tongue, not a hard English 'r'. Think 'butter-fly' flap.
Don't Confuse with 'Teach'
広める is NOT 'to teach'. Use 教える (oshieru) for teaching. 広める is for spreading existing information or things.
Ancient Roots
The character 広 has been around for thousands of years, showing the ancient importance of the concept of 'wide' and 'spread'.
Contextual Practice
Find news articles or social media posts in Japanese and identify where 広める is used. Note what is being spread and why.
Business & Media Focus
You'll frequently encounter 広める in discussions about marketing, advertising, public relations, and the media.
Passive Voice Check
If you want to say 'is spread', use the passive form 広められる (hiromerareru). Example: The news is spread widely. (そのニュースは広く広められている。)
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'hero' (ヒロ - hiro) who travels the world to 'mail' (メイル - meiru, similar sound to 'meru') letters, spreading news everywhere!
Visual Association
Picture a large, open hand (広) gently pushing outwards, scattering seeds (representing information or ideas).
Word Web
Challenge
Think of three things you've recently learned or experienced. How could you use 広める to describe sharing them with others?
Word Origin
Japanese
Original meaning: To cause to spread out; to make wide.
Cultural Context
Be mindful of what is being spread. Spreading rumors (噂を広める) or slander (風評を広める) is negative. Spreading knowledge (知識を広める) or culture (文化を広める) is generally positive.
In English, we use words like 'spread', 'popularize', 'disseminate', 'propagate', 'promote', and 'circulate'. The choice depends heavily on context, from casual conversation to academic writing.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
News & Media
- ニュースを広める (news o hiromeru) - to spread news
- 情報を広める (jōhō o hiromeru) - to spread information
- 報道を広める (hōdō o hiromeru) - to disseminate reports
Marketing & Business
- 商品を広める (shōhin o hiromeru) - to promote/spread products
- ブランドを広める (burando o hiromeru) - to spread brand awareness
- 市場を広める (shijō o hiromeru) - to expand the market
Culture & Education
- 文化を広める (bunka o hiromeru) - to spread culture
- 知識を広める (chishiki o hiromeru) - to spread knowledge
- 教育を広める (kyōiku o hiromeru) - to spread education
Social Interactions
- 噂を広める (uwasa o hiromeru) - to spread a rumor
- 意識を広める (ishiki o hiromeru) - to spread awareness
- 名前を広める (namae o hiromeru) - to make one's name known
Conversation Starters
"What's something you'd like to 広める to more people?"
"How do you think we can best 広める awareness about [topic]?"
"Have you seen how [trend/product] has been 広められている lately?"
"Do you think it's easy to 広める ideas in today's world?"
"What's the most effective way to 広める information, in your opinion?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you helped 広める something positive. What was the impact?
Think about a piece of information you recently encountered. How did it 広まる to you?
If you could 広める one message globally, what would it be and why?
Analyze a marketing campaign you've seen. How did it attempt to 広める its product or service?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions広める is a transitive verb (takes an object), meaning 'to spread something' actively. For example, 'I spread the news.' (私は情報を広めた). 広まる is intransitive, meaning 'to spread' or 'become widespread' on its own. For example, 'The news spread.' (情報は広まった).
While technically possible, it's more common to use verbs like 感染させる (kansensaseru - to infect) or 伝染させる (densensaseru - to transmit/infect) when talking about diseases. 広める is generally used for information, ideas, or products.
Not necessarily. You can 広める rumors (噂を広める) or bad reputations (悪評を広める), which are negative. However, it's often used positively for spreading knowledge (知識を広める) or culture (文化を広める).
It depends on the context! Common synonyms include 'to spread', 'to popularize', 'to disseminate', 'to propagate', 'to promote', or 'to circulate'.
広める is a Group 2 (ichidan) verb. Its polite form is 広めます (hiromemasu), past polite is 広めました (hiromemashita), plain form is 広める (hiromeru), and past plain is 広めた (hirometa).
Yes, though less common than for information. For example, you could say 商品を広める (shōhin o hiromeru) to mean spreading products or expanding their market reach.
伝える means 'to convey' or 'transmit' information from one source to one or a few recipients. 広める means to spread that information to a much wider audience.
Yes, 広がり (hirogari) means 'spread' or 'expansion', and 普及 (fukyū) means 'popularization' or 'widespread adoption'.
Test Yourself
I want to ______ this good news.
You are actively spreading the news, so the transitive verb 広める (hiromeru) is correct.
Which sentence correctly uses 広める?
Option 2 uses 広める correctly to mean 'spread a rumor'. Option 1 uses the intransitive 広まる. Option 3 needs conjugation and is awkward. Option 4 is grammatically incomplete.
広める means 'to receive something'.
広める means 'to spread' or 'to popularize', not 'to receive'.
Word
Meaning
These are common collocations showing different things that can be spread.
The correct sentence is 'His goal was to make his fame spread.' (彼の目標は名声を広めることだった。)
The company is investing heavily to ______ its market share.
The company is actively trying to increase its market share, so 広める (spread/expand) is the correct verb.
Which is the best translation for 広める in the context of academic research?
In academic contexts, 'disseminate' is a precise synonym for 広める when referring to research findings.
広める can be used to describe the passive process of information becoming widespread without active human intervention.
広める implies an active agent spreading something. The passive process is described by 広まる (hiromaru).
Let's ______ the happy news!
You want to share the happy news with many people, so 広める (hiromeru) is the best choice.
What is the opposite of 広める?
収集する (shūshū suru) means 'to collect' or 'to gather', which is the opposite of spreading.
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Summary
Actively spread it wide, like a hero mailing news to the world!
- 広める (hiromeru) means 'to spread' or 'popularize'.
- It's a transitive verb, meaning it actively spreads *something*.
- Used for information, ideas, culture, products, etc.
- Distinguish from 広まる (hiromaru - to spread on its own).
Hero Mail Memory Trick
Remember 'Hiro' (広) sounds like 'Hero', and 'meru' sounds like 'mail'. Imagine a hero mailing letters everywhere to spread news!
Active Spreading
Always think: Is someone *actively* making this spread? If yes, use 広める. If it's just happening on its own, use 広まる (hiromaru).
Positive vs. Negative Spread
While 広める can be neutral, contexts like spreading knowledge or culture are positive, while spreading rumors are negative. Be aware of the connotation.
Transitive Verb Rule
Remember 広める takes a direct object (marked by を). It's about spreading *something*.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More general words
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
ごろ
A2About, approximately (time).
うえ
A2At a higher position than.
絶対
B1Absolutely; definitely; never.
絶対に
B1Absolutely; definitely.
