下くだり坂ざか

く

だ

り

ざ

か

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

downhill; downward slope; descent

Refers to a physical slope or road that goes downward. Often contrasted with 上り坂 (uphill).

See also: 上り坂

この道みちは下くだり坂ざかが続つづいている。
This road continues downhill.
下くだり坂ざかではスピードが出でやすいので注ちゅう意いが必ひつ要ようだ。
Be careful on downhill slopes because it's easy to pick up speed.

2

decline; waning; ebb; going downhill

Metaphorical use for a worsening trend, such as in business, health, or ability. Often used with ～になる or ～をたどる.

景けい気きは下くだり坂ざかにある。
The economy is on the decline.
彼かれの体たい力りょくも下くだり坂ざかだ。
His physical strength is also waning.

See all 30 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉が下くだり坂ざかになるfor something to start declining
会かい社しゃの業ぎょう績せきが下くだり坂ざかになってきた。
The company's performance has started to decline.
〈事こと〉が下くだり坂ざかをたどるfor something to follow a downward trend
彼かれの人にん気きは下くだり坂ざかをたどっている。
His popularity has been on a steady decline.
天てん気きが下くだり坂ざかだthe weather is turning bad
午ご後ごから天てん気きは下くだり坂ざかです。
The weather will start deteriorating from the afternoon.
下くだり坂ざかにかかるto come to a downhill stretch of a road
山やま道みちはここから下くだり坂ざかにかかる。
The mountain road starts going downhill from here.

Kanji

下below, down, descend
坂slope, incline, hill

Related words

衰すい退たいN1sense 2
下り坂 is an idiomatic, everyday way to say something is declining, while 衰退 is a more formal, abstract noun for decline used in writing about nations, industries, or civilizations.
低てい迷めいN1sense 2
下り坂 emphasizes a continuing downward trend, whereas 低迷 emphasizes being stuck in a slump or performing poorly without necessarily still falling.

Opposites

上のぼり坂ざか
下り坂 describes a downward slope or a worsening trend, while 上り坂 describes an upward slope or an improving trend.

Don't confuse with

坂さか道みち
下り坂 specifically means a downhill slope, while 坂道 can refer to either an uphill or downhill road.

Built from

下くだる+坂さか

Etymology

Compound of 下り (kudari, 'descending') + 坂 (saka, 'slope'). The metaphorical sense extends naturally from the physical meaning.