Japanese word

投下

Pronunciation

Romajitōka

Meaning

  • noundropping

Example

ヘリコプターから水を投下します。he ri ko pu tā ka ra mizu o tō ka shi ma su

We drop water from a helicopter.

Illustration for 投下 (dropping)

More examples

山間部へ食料を投下する計画です。san kan bu e shoku ryō o tō ka su ru kei kaku de su

There is a plan to drop food in a mountainous region.

Core concept

Describes placing a load below by letting it fall from a higher point, especially from an aircraft.

Common phrases

  • 物資の投下bus shi no tō ka

    supply drop

  • 上空からの投下jō kū ka ra no tō ka

    aerial drop

  • 資金の投下shi kin no tō ka

    capital investment

Similar words

放出hōshutsu: The act of releasing a load or substance without specifying that it falls from above.

Definition in Japanese

空中や高所から物資などを地上に落とすこと。kū chū ya kō sho ka ra bus shi na do o chi jō ni o to su ko to

Word origin

投 (tō, "throw") + 下 (ka, "down") form 投下 (tōka), a Sino-Japanese compound whose parts describe sending something downward.

Usage tips

  • In English, a helicopter may be said to drop or release water, while throwing down usually suggests a person forcefully tossing an object.

Other meanings

  • airdropnoun
  • throwing downnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 投下するtōkasurudropverb
  • 投下量tōkaryōamount droppednoun

Word lists with this word