Difference between「広げる」、「拡げる」


These have the same reading as ひろげる, but a different kanji. Is there any
variation in connotation between these, or is it just variant spelling? Is 広げる
then, as I believe it is, the more commonly used of the two?




Although _Shinmeikai_ and _Daijiten_ have these as being exactly the same,
_Meikyō_ provides a narrow band of usage for 拡げる. [This answer was rewritten
to reflect this.] 拡げる is used for "broaden" or "enlarge," but not for
"unfurl". 広げる can be used for all three.

There is another kanji associated with ひろげる, 展げる, which is used only in the
sense of "unfurl". It's comparatively rare.




Although _Shinmeikai_ and _Daijiten_ have these as being exactly the same,
_Meikyō_ provides a narrow band of usage for 拡げる. [This answer was rewritten
to reflect this.] 拡げる is used for "broaden" or "enlarge," but not for
"unfurl". 広げる can be used for all three.

There is another kanji associated with ひろげる, 展げる, which is used only in the
sense of "unfurl". It's comparatively rare.

