How to say "sag" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 垂れるたれるichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers the physical sense of hanging or drooping down, whether something dangles naturally or sags under its own weight. Use this when an object, branch, or part of the body bends downward.
- godan verb, intransitive verbMeans to wither, wilt, droop, or shrivel, as of flowers losing freshness or dreams and hopes collapsing. Not the usual word for a sagging object; it suggests losing firmness or vitality rather than hanging down.
- godan verb, intransitive verbMeans to slacken or loosen, applied to things like sagging ceilings or loose, flabby skin. Use it when something once taut has lost its tension or firmness.
Use 「垂れる」 for something hanging or drooping downward, 「しぼむ」 for wilting or shriveling (flowers, plans), and 「たるむ」 for slackening or becoming loose and flabby, such as sagging skin or a sagging ceiling.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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