Translation guide
Expresses downward movement, decrease, or decline. The most common Japanese equivalent is 下がる (sagaru) for intransitive and 下げる (sageru) for transitive. Other options depend on context, such as physical descent, reduction in value, or metaphorical decline.
Describing something physically moving downward, such as a person, object, or level.
General intransitive verb for moving down, stepping back, or hanging down. Used for things like temperature, prices, or physically lowering.
Specifically for getting off a vehicle or descending from a higher place, like stairs or a mountain.
Means to fall down, drop, or collapse. Implies a sudden or uncontrolled downward motion.
リンゴが木から落ちた。
The apple fell from the tree.
Formal term for a decline in quality, ability, or numerical value. Often used in technical or business contexts.
生産性が低下している。
Productivity is going down.
Describing the action of lowering something, such as an object, volume, or price.
General transitive verb for lowering, reducing, or hanging something. Used for prices, volume, heads, etc.
値段を下げた。
They lowered the price.
音量を下げてください。
Please turn down the volume.
To take down or unload something from a higher place or vehicle. Also used for dropping someone off.
To drop something intentionally or accidentally. Implies letting something fall.
Describing a reduction in numbers, prices, quality, or strength.
Intransitive verb for decreasing in quantity or number. Commonly used for countable things or abstract amounts.
Also used for decrease, especially for measurable levels like temperature, prices, or grades.
Formal term for decline, often used in reports or news.
需要が低下した。
Demand went down.
Describing the sun or moon going below the horizon.
Describing a metaphorical downturn, such as in health, business, or reputation.
To decline in strength, vitality, or power. Often used for health, energy, or influence.
体力が衰えた。
My physical strength has gone down.
To fall into a slump or depression. Used for economic downturns or emotional states.
To fall into ruin or decline, especially for families, businesses, or civilizations. Strongly negative and formal.
その一族は没落した。
That family went down in the world.
Describing movement along a route, often downhill or southward.
To go down a slope, river, or road. Also used for traveling away from the capital (traditionally Kyoto/Tokyo).
To go southward. Used in weather forecasts or travel directions.
台風が南下している。
The typhoon is going down (south).
下がる (sagaru) is intransitive (something goes down by itself), while 下げる (sageru) is transitive (someone lowers something). Use 下がる for automatic changes and 下げる when an agent acts.
English 'feeling down' is not usually translated with 下がる. Use 落ち込む (ochikomu) or 気分が沈む (kibun ga shizumu) instead.
気分が沈んでいる。
I'm feeling down.
I took the luggage down from the shelf.
駅の前で降ろしてください。
Please drop me off in front of the station.
I dropped the cup and broke it.
My grades went down.
景気が落ち込んでいる。
The economy is going down.