Translation guide
How to express 'slide down' in Japanese, covering physical downward sliding, slipping, gliding, and metaphorical declines.
To move downward smoothly along a surface, often for fun or due to gravity.
The most natural and common way to say 'slide down' when referring to sliding down a slope, slide, or hill, often for enjoyment.
子供たちは丘を滑り降りた。
The children slid down the hill.
滑り台を滑り降りるのが好きです。
I like sliding down the slide.
General verb for 'to slide' or 'to slip'. Can be used for sliding down when the downward direction is clear from context, but less specific than 滑り降りる.
坂を滑って遊んだ。
We slid down the slope for fun.
Emphasizes falling or slipping down, often unintentionally or with a sense of losing control.
屋根から滑り落ちそうになった。
I almost slid down off the roof.
To slide down while seated on something like a sled, cardboard, or just one's bottom.
Still the best general choice, even when sitting on a sled or similar object.
そりで雪山を滑り降りた。
We slid down the snowy hill on a sled.
Specifically means 'to slide down on one's bottom', often used for sliding down a snowy slope without a sled.
子供たちは雪山を尻滑りして遊んだ。
The children played sliding down the snowy hill on their bottoms.
To lose footing and slide downward, often on a slippery surface.
Best for accidental sliding down, like slipping off a cliff or wet slope.
雨で足を滑らせて、崖を滑り落ちた。
I slipped on the rain and slid down the cliff.
Implies a slow, heavy sliding down, often used for clothing slipping down or a person slumping down.
To move downward in a controlled, smooth, often mechanical manner.
Often used for elevators or things that descend smoothly; 'slide down' is implied by context.
エレベーターがゆっくり降りた。
The elevator slid down slowly.
Literally 'to go down smoothly', used for curtains, screens, or objects that glide down.
カーテンが滑らかに下がった。
The curtain slid down smoothly.
To move a character downward quickly, often by sliding.
Used in gaming contexts for sliding down ladders, ropes, or slopes.
はしごを滑り降りて、敵から逃げた。
I slid down the ladder and escaped the enemy.
Borrowed English term used in some game interfaces or instructions.
スライドダウンして次のエリアへ。
Slide down to the next area.
To decrease in value, quality, or position, like 'slide down the rankings'.
General verb for 'to go down', used for rankings, prices, or status.
彼のランキングは10位に下がった。
He slid down to 10th place in the rankings.
Stronger, implies a dramatic fall or slide down, like 'plummet' or 'tumble'.
人気が転落した。
His popularity slid down dramatically.
滑り降りる (suberioriru) is for intentional, controlled sliding down, like on a slide or sled. 滑り落ちる (suberiochiru) is for accidental or uncontrolled sliding down, like slipping off a roof. Use 滑り降りる for fun activities and 滑り落ちる for mishaps.
滑り台を滑り降りる (intentional)
slide down a slide
崖を滑り落ちる (accidental)
slide down a cliff
While 滑る (suberu) means 'to slide', it often implies slipping or gliding on a surface, not necessarily downward. For downward sliding, 滑り降りる or 滑り落ちる are clearer. Using 滑る alone might be ambiguous.
彼は疲れて壁をずり落ちた。
Exhausted, he slid down the wall.