also: まろぶ
godan verb (-bu), intransitive verb
Describes a person or object losing balance and falling to the ground. Common in everyday situations.
雨の日は道が滑って転びやすい。
On rainy days, the roads are slippery and it's easy to fall.
子供が石につまずいて転んだ。
The child tripped on a stone and fell.
godan verb (-bu), intransitive verb
turn out; end up; play out
Only with reading ころぶ
Used in the set phrase どう転んでも (no matter how things turn out) to express that the outcome is certain or inevitable. Limited to this pattern.
どう転んでも、この試合はうちのチームが勝つだろう。
No matter how it plays out, our team will probably win this match.
godan verb (-bu), intransitive verb
abandon Christianity; apostatize
Only with reading ころぶ
Historical term from early Japanese Christianity, referring to the act of renouncing the faith, often under persecution, and sometimes converting to Buddhism.
江戸時代初期、多くのキリシタンが転ぶことを強いられた。
In the early Edo period, many Christians were forced to apostatize.
godan verb (-bu), intransitive verb
Describes rolling or tumbling movement, similar to 転がる. Often used for objects or people rolling over.
See also: ころがる
ボールが坂を転んでいった。
The ball rolled down the hill.
godan verb (-bu), intransitive verb
prostitute in secret (archaic, geisha)
Archaic term for a geisha engaging in clandestine prostitution. Not used in modern Japanese.
昔の遊里では、芸者が密かに転ぶこともあったという。
In the old pleasure quarters, it is said that geisha sometimes secretly prostituted themselves.