Meaning and Usage
The verb 配る (くばる) means "to distribute" or "to hand out." It is commonly used when giving out physical items such as papers, samples, or materials to multiple people.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 配る in contexts like schools (distributing test papers), events (handing out flyers or samples), or meetings (sharing documents). It implies an intentional and organized action of giving something to others.
Collocations and Patterns
- 用紙を配る (ようしをくばる): to distribute forms or papers
- サンプルを配る: to hand out samples
- 注意深く配る: to distribute carefully
These collocations highlight typical objects and manners of distribution.
Register and Politeness
配る is a neutral verb suitable for both formal and informal situations. It is often used in business and everyday conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 配る with 渡す (わたす), which means "to hand over" but usually refers to giving something directly to one person. 配る emphasizes distributing to multiple recipients.