Translation guide
To shoot down means to bring down an aircraft, missile, or other flying object with weapons fire. It can also be used figuratively to mean rejecting or defeating an idea, proposal, or person decisively.
To destroy or force an aircraft, drone, or missile to fall by firing weapons.
The standard term for shooting down an aircraft or missile in military or news contexts.
They shot down an enemy fighter plane.
The missile was intercepted and shot down.
Literally 'strike down', used for shooting down flying objects, often with a nuance of hitting with projectiles.
The hunter shot down the bird.
Similar to 打ち落とす but with the kanji for 'shoot', emphasizing firearms.
The soldier shot down the drone.
To strongly reject, dismiss, or defeat an argument, plan, or suggestion.
Formal term for rejecting a proposal, motion, or application. Common in business and official settings.
His proposal was shot down immediately.
To deny or negate an idea or claim. Less forceful than 'shoot down' but widely used.
To defeat someone in an argument, to refute completely. Conveys the sense of shooting down someone's logic.
He shot down his opponent's opinion.
To reject out of hand, to brush aside. Strong and somewhat literary.
The president shot down that plan.
To decisively defeat or humiliate someone, often in a competition or argument.
When using 'shoot down' figuratively, avoid directly translating with 撃墜する unless the context is clearly metaphorical and understood. For rejecting ideas, use 却下する or 否定する instead.
打ち落とす can be used for hitting down with any object (e.g., a stick), while 撃ち落とす specifically implies shooting with a firearm or projectile weapon. In modern contexts, 撃墜する is preferred for aircraft and missiles.
She shot down that theory head-on.
I shot him down in the debate.