Translation guide
The English word 'dropping' can refer to the act of letting something fall, a decline or decrease, or the omission of something. This guide helps learners express these meanings naturally in Japanese.
To express the action of accidentally or intentionally letting an object fall from one's hand or a higher position.
The most common transitive verb for 'to drop' something. Used when the subject causes an object to fall.
スマホを落としてしまった。
I dropped my smartphone.
コップを落とさないように気をつけて。
Be careful not to drop the cup.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to fall' or 'to drop' (as in the object itself falls). Use when the focus is on the object falling, not who dropped it.
財布がポケットから落ちた。
My wallet dropped out of my pocket.
Loanword from English, used in gaming or tech contexts (e.g., dropping items, dropping a connection). Not for everyday physical dropping.
敵がアイテムをドロップした。
The enemy dropped an item.
To describe a reduction in amount, value, temperature, performance, etc.
Intransitive verb for 'to drop/fall' in value, temperature, grades, etc. Commonly used for measurable declines.
気温が急に下がった。
The temperature dropped suddenly.
売り上げが下がっている。
Sales are dropping.
Formal term for 'decline/drop' in quality, ability, or standards. Often used in written or business contexts.
品質が低下している。
The quality is dropping.
Can also mean a drop in performance, rank, or status. Often used for failing tests or dropping in rankings.
Formal term for 'decrease/drop' in numbers or quantity. Used in reports or news.
人口が減少している。
The population is dropping.
To express the act of removing something or someone from a group, schedule, or plan.
Means 'to remove' or 'to drop' from a list, team, or schedule. Commonly used in everyday contexts.
彼をメンバーから外した。
We dropped him from the team.
その科目を履修から外した。
I dropped that course.
Means 'to quit' or 'to stop'. Used for dropping a class, activity, or habit. More casual than 外す.
授業をやめた。
I dropped the class.
Used in academic contexts (dropping a course) or gaming (dropping from a party). Loanword, casual.
その授業をドロップした。
I dropped that class.
To express giving up on a subject, idea, or project.
To express casually mentioning something in a subtle way.
Means 'to hint at' or 'to drop a hint'. Used when indirectly suggesting something.
彼は辞職をほのめかした。
He dropped a hint about resigning.
Casual expression meaning 'to mention in passing' or 'to drop a remark'. Literally 'say a little bit'.
彼女が結婚のことをちらっと言った。
She dropped a remark about marriage.
To express letting a passenger out of a vehicle at a certain point.
Transitive verb meaning 'to drop off' or 'to let someone off' a vehicle. Used for cars, buses, etc.
駅の前で降ろしてください。
Please drop me off in front of the station.
子供を学校で降ろした。
I dropped the kids off at school.
Means 'to send' or 'to escort'. Can be used for dropping someone off, but implies accompanying them partway.
The loanword ドロップする is mainly used in gaming or tech contexts. For physically dropping an object, use 落とす (transitive) or 落ちる (intransitive). Using ドロップする for everyday dropping sounds unnatural.
スマホを落とした。
I dropped my smartphone.
落とす is transitive (someone drops something), while 落ちる is intransitive (something falls/drops). Choose based on whether you want to emphasize the agent or the object.
私がコップを落とした。
I dropped the cup.
コップが落ちた。
The cup dropped.
My grades dropped.
試験に落ちた。
I failed the exam (literally: dropped the exam).
旅行を取りやめた。
We dropped the trip.
I dropped my friend off at home.