Japanese word

落ちる

Pronunciation

Romajiochiru

Meaning

  • verbfall

Example

ボールが落ちます。bō ru ga o chi ma su

The ball falls.

Illustration for 落ちる (fall)

More examples

木からりんごが落ちます。ki ka ra ri n go ga o chi ma su

An apple falls from the tree.

階段で足を滑らせて、落ちました。kai dan de ashi o sube ra se te o chi ma shi ta

I slipped on the stairs and fell.

Core concept

Describes something moving downward from a higher place, usually after losing support or control.

Common phrases

  • 階段から落ちるkai dan ka ra o chi ru

    fall down the stairs

  • 木から落ちるki ka ra o chi ru

    fall from a tree

  • 地面に落ちるji men ni o chi ru

    fall to the ground

Similar words

転ぶkorobu: To fall onto the ground after losing balance while standing or moving.
倒れるtaoreru: To fall over from an upright position because of lost balance or support.
落っこちるokkochiru: To fall in an informal way, often with a sudden or uncontrolled movement.

Definition in Japanese

高い所から低い所へ、物が移動する。taka i tokoro ka ra hiku i tokoro e mono ga i dō su ru

Word origin

落ちる (ochiru) continues the older verb 落つ (otsu, "to fall"), with the modern verb ending replacing the older form.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 落ちる (ochiru) describes the thing that falls, while 落とす (otosu) describes someone causing something to fall.

Other meanings

  • dropverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word