To scatter or cause small things (e.g. petals, papers, sparks) to be dispersed or showered about.
風が花びらを散らして、桜並木は薄桃色の絨毯になった。
The wind scattered the petals, and the row of cherry trees became a pale pink carpet.
子どもたちが紙吹雪を散らしてパーティーを盛り上げた。
The children scattered confetti and livened up the party.
彼は庭に落ちた葉を熊手で散らした。
He raked and scattered the leaves that had fallen in the garden.
To disperse, spread out, or distribute objects (papers, materials, flyers) over an area.
机の上に資料を散らしておいたので、好きなページを開いてください。
I spread the handouts across the desk, so please open whichever page you like.
駅前でアルバイトが新商品のチラシを散らして配っていた。
Part-time workers were handing out flyers for the new product in front of the station.
釣り人は池にエサを散らして魚を集めた。
The angler scattered bait in the pond to attract the fish.
To disperse or relieve a symptom or discomfort; to get rid of or ease something (pain, tension, etc.).
温かいお茶で胃の痛みが少し散った気がする。
I feel the stomachache has eased a bit after drinking warm tea.
深呼吸をして緊張を散らすと、プレゼンがうまくいった。
Taking deep breaths and easing my tension helped my presentation go well.
その薬は炎症を散らす効果があると説明された。
I was told that the medicine has the effect of reducing inflammation.
To distract or divert someone's attention (same nuance as 気を散らす).
授業中に外の騒音が学生の注意を散らした。
The noise outside distracted the students during class.
彼は冗談を言って、会議の緊張を散らそうとした。
He told a joke to try to relieve the tension in the meeting.
スマホの通知が気を散らして仕事に集中できない。
Phone notifications distract me and I can't concentrate on work.
A suffix attached to the stem of a verb (after 〜ます-stem) meaning to do something messily, all over the place, or frequently (e.g., 食べ散らす “to eat messily”).
彼は部屋で食べ散らして、床にパン屑がたくさん落ちている。
He ate messily in his room, and there are breadcrumbs all over the floor.
メモを書き散らして、結局何が重要かわからなくなった。
I scribbled notes everywhere and ended up not knowing what was important.