Japanese word

倒す

Pronunciation

Romajitaosu

Meaning

  • verbknock down

Example

ボウリングでピンを倒します。bō ri n gu de pi n o tao shi ma su

I knock down a pin while bowling.

Illustration for 倒す (knock down)

More examples

掃除中に、棚の箱を倒しました。sō ji chū ni tana no bako o tao shi ma shi ta

While cleaning, I knocked over a box on the shelf.

Core concept

Presents an upright target as being made to fall, whether it is a physical object or an opponent in a contest.

Common phrases

  • ピンを倒すpi n o tao su

    knock down a pin

  • 相手を倒すai te o tao su

    defeat an opponent

Similar words

押し倒すoshitaosu: To make a person or object fall by pushing it.
転ばすkorobasu: To cause a person to lose balance and fall.
負かすmakasu: To defeat an opponent in a contest or game.

Definition in Japanese

物や人を倒れた状態にしたり、競技や争いで相手を負かしたりすること。mono ya hito o tao re ta jō tai ni shi ta ri kyō gi ya araso i de ai te o ma ka shi ta ri su ru ko to

Word origin

倒す (taosu) is a native Japanese verb formed from 倒る (taoru, "to fall") and す (su, "make"), an old causative element that gives the sense "make fall."

Usage tips

  • Japanese distinguishes 倒す (taosu) from 倒れる (taoreru): the former takes a person or thing as its object, while the latter describes falling without an object.

Other meanings

  • defeatverb
  • tip oververb

Opposites

Related words

  • 倒し方taoshikataway to knock downnoun

Word lists with this word