下る・降る|くだるkudaru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
下る下る is the more common spelling and the recommended default for beginners; it is written with a mixture of kanji and kana.
降る降る is a less common spelling of 下る, also written with a mixture of kanji and kana; beginners should generally choose 下る instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto descend; to go down; to come down
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be handed down (of an order, judgment, etc.)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto pass (of time)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto surrender; to capitulate
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be less than; to be inferior tooften in neg. form
- godan verb, intransitive verbto have the runs; to have diarrheaalso written as 瀉る
- godan verb, intransitive verbto pass (in stool); to be discharged from the body
- godan verb, intransitive verbto depreciate oneself; to be humble
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 下る（くだる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 下ります（くだります） |
| Negative (nai) | 下らない（くだらない） |
| polite (masen) | 下りません（くだりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 下らず・下らぬ（くだらず・くだらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 下った（くだった） |
| polite (mashita) | 下りました（くだりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 下らなかった（くだらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 下りませんでした（くだりませんでした） |
| Te form | 下って（くだって） |
| Potential | 下れる（くだれる） |
| Passive | 下られる（くだられる） |
| Causative | 下らせる（くだらせる） |
| Causative passive | 下らせられる・下らされる（くだらせられる・くだらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 下れば（くだれば） |
| tara | 下ったら（くだったら） |
| Volitional | 下ろう（くだろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 下りましょう（くだりましょう） |
| Imperative | 下れ（くだれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
判決が下る
判決を下す
下る emphasizes the subject’s own downward movement, as when a deity descends spontaneously; 下ろす focuses on an agent causing something to descend, as in ritually summoning a deity.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related落ちるおちるNeutralUsed of things dropping from a height, and of failing an exam or a drop in quality; 「下る」 is for moving down a slope or river, or an order being handed down.
- Related墜落ついらくNeutralA noun for aircraft and the like crashing from the sky, also figuratively a sudden downfall; 「下る」 is simply moving down a slope or along a river.
- Related転落てんらくNeutralRolling or tumbling down, and figuratively a fall in status, as in 「階段から転落」; 「下る」 is walking down a road.
- Related落下らっかNeutralA noun for objects falling from a height, as in 「落下物」; 「下る」 means going down along a road, not dropping.
- Related低下ていかNeutralThe usual word for levels or ability declining, as in 「体力の低下」; 「下る」 mainly means going down, orders handed down, or time passing, not a drop in strength.
- Related落っこちるおっこちるCasualColloquial for dropping down or losing an election, much like 「落ちる」; 「下る」 is for going down or an order being handed down, never for dropping.
- Antonym上がるあがるNeutralThe direct antonym in the up-down direction: going up or rising, as in 「階段を上がる」.
- Antonym上るのぼるNeutralThe opposite of 「下る」's downward movement; also for numbers or status rising, as in 「物価が上がる」. Its sense of entering a room or a school does not contrast with 「下る」.
「下る」 is for going down a slope or river, for orders and judgments handed down, and time passing. Use 「落ちる」 for things dropping, 「墜落」 for plane crashes, 「転落」 for tumbling or downfall, 「落下」 for falling objects, 「低下」 for declining levels; the antonym is 「上がる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
