Translation guide
How to express 'cave-in' in Japanese, covering literal collapses and figurative breakdowns.
Describing a physical cave-in, such as in a mine, tunnel, or sinkhole.
Specifically refers to a cave-in or roof fall in a mine or tunnel. Common in news and technical contexts.
Describing a person or organization yielding under pressure, or a plan failing.
Means 'to yield' or 'to surrender' under pressure. Used for people or groups giving in.
彼は圧力に屈服した。
He caved in to the pressure.
落盤 is specifically for underground collapses like mines or tunnels, while 陥没 is for surface depressions like sinkholes or road collapses. Use 落盤 for mining accidents and 陥没 for ground subsidence.
落盤で作業員が閉じ込められた。
Workers were trapped by a cave-in.
大雨で道路が陥没した。
The road caved in due to heavy rain.
Do not use 落盤 or 陥没 for figurative 'cave-in' (giving in to pressure). These are physical collapses. Use 屈服する or 折れる instead.
炭鉱で落盤事故が起きた。
A cave-in accident occurred at the coal mine.
Refers to a sinkhole or ground subsidence, often used for road collapses or sinkholes.
道路が陥没して大きな穴ができた。
The road caved in, creating a large hole.
General verb for 'collapse' or 'crumble'. Can be used for cave-ins but is less specific.
トンネルが崩れた。
The tunnel caved in.
Verb form of 陥没, meaning 'to cave in' or 'to sink'.
地面が突然陥没した。
The ground suddenly caved in.
Literally 'to break' or 'to snap', but idiomatically means 'to give in' or 'to compromise'. Common in casual speech.
彼はついに折れて、要求を受け入れた。
He finally caved in and accepted the demands.
Idiom meaning 'to throw in the towel' or 'to give up'. Implies admitting defeat after struggling.
彼は長時間の交渉に音を上げた。
He caved in after the long negotiations.
Literally 'to fall' or 'to surrender', used for cities or fortresses falling, but can metaphorically mean a person's will collapsing.
彼の精神は完全に陥落した。
His spirit completely caved in.
彼は要求に折れた。
He caved in to the demands.
彼は要求に折れた。
He caved in to the demands.