Translation guide
To deliberately drop one's body to the ground, often in a dramatic or sudden way. The most natural Japanese expression depends on the intent: collapsing in exhaustion, diving for cover, prostrating in apology, or flopping down casually.
To let one's body fall heavily to the ground due to physical or emotional collapse.
To collapse or fall down heavily, often from exhaustion or shock. Emphasizes the motion of falling into a place or onto a surface.
He threw himself down on the floor from exhaustion.
To crumble and fall, often used when someone's legs give out or they collapse emotionally.
She threw herself down on the spot and burst into tears.
To sink down or slump to the ground, often from exhaustion or shock. Implies a loss of strength in the legs.
After finishing the run, he threw himself down on the ground.
To suddenly drop to the ground to take cover or avoid being hit.
To lie flat or crouch down to protect oneself. Commonly used in military or emergency contexts.
Hearing gunfire, everyone threw themselves down.
To lie flat on the ground. More literal than 身を伏せる, emphasizing the ground.
To dive or jump into something. Can be used for diving to the ground for cover, but usually implies entering a space (e.g., diving into a ditch).
To bow deeply or lie flat on the ground as a formal gesture of apology or reverence.
To kneel and bow until one's head touches the ground, a traditional extreme apology. Often seen in dramatic apologies.
He threw himself down to beg for forgiveness.
To prostrate oneself fully, lying flat on the ground. Used in very formal or historical contexts, such as before a lord.
The retainer threw himself down before the king.
To throw one's body onto a soft surface casually or emotionally.
To throw oneself down, often onto a bed or sofa, with a sense of abandon or exhaustion.
As soon as I got home, I threw myself down on the bed.
Also used for flopping onto a bed or sofa, similar to collapsing.
Casual loanword for diving or jumping onto something, often used playfully.
The kids threw themselves down into the pool.
Directly translating 'throw oneself down' as 自分を投げ下ろす is not natural Japanese. Use context-appropriate verbs like 倒れ込む or 身を伏せる.
At the moment of the explosion, he instantly threw himself down on the ground.
彼は側溝に飛び込んで難を逃れた。
He threw himself down into the ditch and escaped danger.
I was so tired that I threw myself down on the sofa.