Translation guide
The English word 'flop' can refer to a failure (of a movie, product, event), a heavy or loose falling motion, or a sound. This guide covers how to express these ideas naturally in Japanese.
The movie was a flop.
He flopped onto the sofa.
To say that something was a commercial or critical failure, a dud, or a bomb.
Literally 'failed work', used for movies, books, products, etc. that were failures.
That movie was a flop.
A big failure or blunder. Can be used for events, projects, or personal endeavors.
The new product ended up being a flop.
Slang for 'to flop' or 'to bomb', often used for comedians, performances, or products.
That joke totally flopped.
Poor attendance or box office failure, specifically for performances or events.
Opening day was a flop (poor attendance).
To describe something falling heavily, limply, or with a flapping sound.
Onomatopoeic phrase for a heavy object falling with a thud.
He flopped onto the bed exhausted.
To fall over with a flop or bang, often used for people or objects.
The bookshelf flopped over with a bang.
To flap or flop around loosely, like a flag or loose clothing.
The laundry is flopping in the wind.
To describe the sound of something flopping, like a wet object hitting a surface.
Onomatopoeia for a wet, slapping sound, like a fish flopping on a cutting board.
The fish flopped on the cutting board with a wet slap.
Sound of something plopping into water, like a flop into a pool.
The frog flopped into the pond with a plop.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all meanings of 'flop'. Use 失敗作 for failed works, 大失敗 for big failures, and onomatopoeia like ドサッ for physical flopping.