Translation guide
The English word 'down' has many uses. This guide covers the most common meanings for learners: downward direction/movement, being in a low position, feeling sad, not functioning, writing/recording, and reducing. It does not cover every possible Japanese word that can be translated as 'down'.
Expressing movement or direction toward a lower place
General word for 'down' as a direction or lower position. Often used with particles like に or へ.
Please look down.
猫が木から下に降りた。
The cat climbed down from the tree.
Verb meaning 'to go down', 'to descend', or 'to get off' (a vehicle). Intransitive.
Transitive verb meaning 'to lower something' or 'to bring down'.
手を下げてください。
Please put your hand down.
Same reading as 下りる but specifically for getting off a vehicle or descending from a high place. Often interchangeable.
山を降りる。
Descend the mountain.
Loanword used in specific contexts like 'countdown' or 'shutdown', not for physical direction.
カウントダウン
countdown
Describing something that is physically low or has fallen
Phrase meaning 'is down' or 'is below'.
本は机の下にある。
The book is down under the desk.
Means 'has fallen down' or 'is lying down' (for objects or people).
木が倒れている。
The tree is down.
Means 'has fallen' and is on the ground, often for small items.
ペンが落ちている。
The pen is down (on the floor).
Expressing a low emotional state
Common phrase for feeling down or depressed.
彼は最近落ち込んでいる。
He's been feeling down lately.
Literally 'mood sinks', meaning to feel down or gloomy.
雨の日は気分が沈む。
I feel down on rainy days.
Casual loanword from English 'blue', meaning sad or down.
今日はちょっとブルーだ。
I'm feeling a bit down today.
Describing something that is out of order or unavailable
Standard term for a machine being broken or out of order.
エレベーターが故障している。
The elevator is down.
Common loanword for systems, servers, or websites being down.
サーバーがダウンしている。
The server is down.
General phrase meaning 'cannot be used', often for services or facilities.
今、ネットが使えない。
The internet is down right now.
To note down, write, or record information
Verb meaning 'to write down' or 'to note down'.
メモを書き留めてください。
Please write down a memo.
Casual verb meaning 'to jot down' or 'to take a memo'.
電話番号をメモした。
I wrote down the phone number.
Formal verb for recording or documenting information.
結果を記録してください。
Please record (write down) the results.
To lower amount, intensity, or level
Transitive verb for lowering something like volume, price, or status.
音量を下げてください。
Please turn down the volume.
Verb meaning 'to reduce' quantity or number.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to go down' or 'to drop' (e.g., temperature, price).
English phrasal verbs like 'sit down', 'calm down', 'break down' often have specific Japanese equivalents that do not use the word for 'down'. Learn them as separate expressions.
The loanword ダウン is mainly used for systems (server down), in sports (knockdown), or in compound words like カウントダウン. It is not used for physical direction or emotional states.
You should cut down on salt.
The temperature went down.