Translation guide
This entry covers how to express the idea of 'falling through' something, such as a surface, a gap, or a plan. It includes physical falling through objects, metaphorical falling through (like plans failing), and related expressions.
Describing when a person or object falls through a hole, gap, or weak surface.
General verb for 'to fall', often used with a location marked by から or に to indicate falling through something.
床が抜けて、下に落ちた。
The floor gave way and I fell through to the floor below.
穴に落ちた。
I fell into a hole.
Means 'to fall through' or 'to slip through', often used when something passes through a hole or gap. Can be used for objects or people.
ボールがネットを抜けた。
The ball fell through the net.
彼は窓から抜け落ちた。
He fell through the window.
Means 'to slip through' or 'to pass through narrowly', often implying escaping or passing through a small space.
猫が柵をすり抜けた。
The cat slipped through the fence.
Describing when a plan, deal, or arrangement fails to happen or collapses.
Commonly used for plans or events being canceled or falling through. Literally means 'to flow', but in this context it means 'to be called off'.
旅行の計画が流れた。
Our travel plans fell through.
会議が流れてしまった。
The meeting fell through.
Casual expression meaning 'to fall through' or 'to come to nothing'. Often used for plans or hopes.
General phrase meaning 'to become no good' or 'to fail'. Can be used for plans falling through.
せっかくの計画がだめになった。
Our carefully made plans fell through.
Describing when someone or something is overlooked or neglected, especially in a system.
Passive form of 見落とす (to overlook). Means 'to be overlooked' or 'to be missed'.
その問題は見落とされた。
That issue fell through the cracks.
Means 'to be omitted' or 'to be left out'. Can be used when something is not included or falls through a system.
彼の名前がリストから漏れた。
His name fell through the cracks (was left off the list).
落ちる focuses on the downward motion of falling, while 抜ける emphasizes passing through an opening or barrier. Use 落ちる when the fall is the main point, and 抜ける when the passage through something is key.
彼は屋根から落ちた。
He fell from the roof.
彼は窓から抜け落ちた。
He fell through the window.
The date fell through.