Godan verb, transitive verb

  1. to pay (e.g. money, bill).
  2. to brush off, to wipe away, to clear away, to dust off, to cut off (e.g. branches).
  3. to drive away (e.g. one's competitors).
  4. to sell off (something unneeded), to dispose of.
  5. to pay (e.g. attention), to show (e.g. respect, concern).
  6. to make (e.g. effort, sacrifice), to expend, to exert.
  7. to move out (of one's own place), to vacate.
  8. to sweep (e.g. one's legs), to knock aside.
  9. to make a sweeping stroke (in Japanese calligraphy).
  10. to reset (an abacus).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
払う はらう
 
掃う はらう

Contained Kanji Breakdown

pay, clear out, prune
はら.う フツ はらい (7th, N3)
hand, hand radical (no. 64)
シュ
I, myself, katakana mu radical (no. 28)
シ ボウ ム (Kentei 1)