Translation guide
The English phrase "pull down" has several distinct meanings, from physically lowering something to demolishing a building or earning money informally. This guide covers the most common ways to express each meaning in natural Japanese.
To grasp something and move it in a downward direction, such as a handle, blinds, or a lever.
General verb for pulling something down, often used for blinds, levers, or objects from a height.
ブラインドを引き下ろしてください。
Please pull down the blinds.
Often used for pulling down a lever, switch, or something that moves along a track. Slightly more formal than 引き下ろす.
レバーを引き下げてください。
Please pull down the lever.
Simple verb for lowering something, like a window or a screen. Can also mean 'to bring down'.
窓を下ろしてくれますか？
Could you pull down the window?
To destroy or dismantle a building, wall, or other structure.
Standard verb for demolishing a building or structure. Implies intentional dismantling.
古い家を取り壊す予定です。
We plan to pull down the old house.
General verb for breaking or destroying. Can be used for pulling down structures, but less specific than 取り壊す.
Formal or technical term for dismantling or demolishing, often used in construction contexts.
そのビルは来月解体されます。
That building will be pulled down next month.
To pull a garment downward, such as a skirt, pants, or sleeves.
General verb for lowering something. Used for pulling down clothing like a skirt or sleeves.
スカートを少し下げたほうがいいよ。
You should pull your skirt down a little.
Emphasizes the pulling action, often used for sleeves or hems.
To earn a certain amount of money, often used in casual or slang contexts.
Standard verb for earning money. Can be used in the sense of 'pulling down' a salary.
彼は月に100万円稼いでいる。
He pulls down a million yen a month.
Literally 'to obtain', can be used informally for getting money, but less direct than 稼ぐ.
To cause someone to feel sad, depressed, or discouraged.
Causative form of 落ち込む (to feel depressed). Means to make someone feel down.
その知らせは彼を落ち込ませた。
The news really pulled him down.
Literally 'to make one's mood sink', a more literary way to say 'pull down' emotionally.
雨の日は気分を沈ませる。
Rainy days pull me down.
To click and drag a menu or list downward on a screen.
Loanword from English 'pull down', commonly used in tech contexts for dropdown menus.
メニューをプルダウンしてください。
Please pull down the menu.
Also a loanword, 'dropdown', used interchangeably with プルダウン.
リストをドロップダウンして選んでください。
Pull down the list and select.
The English phrase 'pull down' used for emotional states (e.g., 'That really pulled me down') does not translate literally. Use 落ち込ませる or 気分を沈ませる instead of a direct translation of 'pull'.
When talking about buildings, use 取り壊す for demolition. For physically lowering something like a lever or blinds, use 引き下ろす or 引き下げる. Confusing these can lead to misunderstandings.
彼は古い物置を取り壊した。
He pulled down the old shed.
日よけを引き下ろしてください。
Pull down the window shade, please.
彼女は年収1000万円を稼いでいる。
She pulls down a six-figure salary.
We pulled down a wall to make the room bigger.
袖を引き下げてください。
Please pull down your sleeves.
彼はいい給料を手に入れている。
He pulls down a good salary.