Translation guide
The English word 'fell' can be a verb meaning to cut down a tree or knock someone down, or an adjective meaning fierce or cruel. This guide covers the main uses an English-speaking learner might need.
To cut down a tree, especially in forestry or logging contexts.
The standard verb for felling trees, used in forestry and formal contexts.
The company obtained permission to fell the forest.
Literally 'cut and knock down', a more vivid and common verb for felling a tree.
彼は斧でその木を切り倒した。
He felled the tree with an axe.
To cause a person to fall to the ground, often in a fight or accident.
General verb for knocking someone down or defeating them.
ボクサーは一発のパンチで相手を倒した。
The boxer felled his opponent with one punch.
Specifically to knock someone down by punching.
Describing something as fierce, cruel, or deadly, often in literary or old-fashioned English.
Means ferocious or fierce, used for animals or people.
獰猛な獣が村を襲った。
A fell beast attacked the village.
Means cruel or brutal, fitting the 'cruel' sense of 'fell'.
彼は残忍な方法で敵を倒した。
He defeated his enemies in a fell manner.
Means dreadful or terrible, can be used in literary contexts for 'fell'.
The past tense of 'fall' is 'fell', but this entry is about the verb 'to fell' (cut down) and the adjective 'fell' (fierce). Be careful not to mix them up.
彼は乱暴者を殴り倒した。
He felled the thug with a punch.
恐ろしい運命が彼を待っていた。
A fell fate awaited him.