Translation guide
Describes an action done with a flopping sound or motion, such as sitting down heavily, dropping something, or something falling flat.
Express sitting down or dropping something with a heavy, careless, or sudden flopping sound/motion.
An onomatopoeic adverb for a heavy thud, often used for sitting down or dropping something heavily.
彼はソファにどさっと座った。
He sat down on the sofa with a flop.
I put the luggage on the floor with a thud.
Similar to どさっと, but implies a more deliberate or heavier sitting motion, often with a sense of settling in.
疲れて椅子にどっかと腰を下ろした。
Exhausted, I flopped down into the chair.
Used for a lighter flopping sound, like a book falling flat or a person collapsing from exhaustion.
本が机の上にばたっと倒れた。
The book flopped over on the desk.
Describe something or someone falling flat, collapsing, or flopping over.
Onomatopoeia for falling flat suddenly, often used for people collapsing or things toppling over.
彼は疲れてベッドにばったり倒れた。
He flopped onto the bed from exhaustion.
強風で看板がばったり倒れた。
The signboard flopped over in the strong wind.
Similar to ばったり but slightly lighter or more abrupt; can also mean suddenly stopping.
Express that something (a plan, performance, product) was a failure or flop.
General word for failure; can be used as a noun or verb (失敗する).
その映画は興行的に大失敗だった。
The movie was a big flop at the box office.
Literally 'misfire'; used for jokes, plans, or efforts that fall flat or fail to produce the intended effect.
Slang for a flop, especially in entertainment; can also mean to fall down.
新作ゲームは見事にコケた。
The new game flopped spectacularly.
どさっと is the most common for a heavy flop or thud, like dropping a bag or sitting down carelessly. どっかと implies a more deliberate, weighty settling motion. ばたっと is lighter and often used for things falling flat or a person collapsing from exhaustion.
When talking about a failure (e.g., a movie flop), do not use onomatopoeia like どさっと. Use 失敗 or other failure-related words. Using sound words for metaphorical failure will sound unnatural.
子供が遊び疲れてぱったりと寝てしまった。
The child played until exhausted and flopped down asleep.
His joke flopped (fell flat).