釣瓶落つるべおとし

つ

る

べ

お

と

し

Meanings

1

noun

fast descent; speedy fall; plummeting

Often used figuratively for the rapid setting of the autumn sun, likening it to a well-bucket dropping swiftly. Can also describe any sudden, steep fall.

秋あきの日ひは釣瓶落つるべおとしだ。

The autumn sun sets quickly, like a dropping well-bucket.

株かぶ価かが釣瓶落つるべおとしに下さがった。

Stock prices plummeted.

Kanji

落fall, drop, come down
釣angling, fish, catch
瓶bottle, vial, jar

Related words

急きゅう降こう下か
急降下 is a more technical term for a steep descent (e.g., of an aircraft), while 釣瓶落とし is a vivid, figurative expression often tied to the swift setting of the autumn sun.

Written forms

釣瓶落つるべおとしUsage40%
Standard kanji spelling; literally 'well-bucket dropping', evoking the swift descent of a bucket into a well.
つるべ落おとしUsage60%
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; 釣瓶 is sometimes written in kana for simplicity.

Etymology

From 釣瓶 (つるべ, 'well-bucket') + 落とし (おとし, 'dropping'), referring to the swift motion of a bucket falling into a well. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but the imagery is well-established in classical and modern Japanese.