Meaning

Primary

To Spread Out

Alternatives

To Extend, To Stretch

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

Remember 広い? Well this is like that, except a verb. When something does the action of getting wide, it means to spread out, to extend, or to stretch.

You already learned 広げる, which is used when you spread SOMETHING. But 広がる is intransitive, so it doesn't take a direct object. Like: The sea spreads out before you. See? No direct object.

Actually, verbs ending in okurigana that rhyme with ある tend to be intransitive like this. You can remember this because if something is ある, it's just there, existing, not acting on anything else. That's why verbs that sound like it are often intransitive too!

Reading

ひろがる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading is the same as 広い, too, so as long as you knew that you knew this reading as well.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • チャンスが広がる

    chances are better

    海が広がる

    the ocean spreads out

    うまみが広がる

    the flavor spreads

Context Sentences

両足、もっと広がる?

Can you spread both of your legs more?

リビングルームは、この入り口から広がります。

The living room spreads from this entrance.

ウィルスは、すぐに全日本に広がった。

The virus quickly spread to all Japan.

Kanji Composition