下降|かこうkakou[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbdescent; fall; drop; decline; downturn; subsidence

• Synonym下落げらくWrittenWritten word for prices, market conditions or value falling — economic in flavour. 「下降」 also covers physical position or figures moving down.
• Synonym低下ていかNeutralNeutral word for ability or quality declining, as in 「視力低下」. 「下降」 focuses on position or numerical values going down.
• Synonym低落ていらくWrittenWritten word for value, prices, popularity or reputation dropping. 「下降」 is the more objective term.
• Synonym降下こうかWrittenWritten word for coming down from a height, e.g. parachuting or aircraft, and for orders being handed down. 「下降」 also covers degree dropping, not just position.
• SynonymダウンCasualColloquial loanword for figures or results dropping, also being knocked down or laid up sick. 「下降」 is the more formal choice.
• SynonymさがるNeutralEveryday verb for going down, stepping back or hanging. 「下降」 is the Sino-Japanese, more formal written choice.
• Synonym減るへるNeutralEveryday native verb for numbers or amounts getting smaller. 「下降」 can describe figures too, but usually position or degree; 「減る」 never refers to position.
• SynonymさがりNeutralNoun for a fall or drooping, mostly in compounds like 「値下がり」; rarely used on its own.
• Related落ち込むおちこむNeutralFor feeling down, business or performance slumping, or literally falling into a hole. 「下降」 leans toward numerical trends.
• Related落ちるおちるNeutralEveryday verb for falling or dropping; the broadest of the group and very common in speech. 「下降」 is a Sino-Japanese word with a formal feel.
• Related減少げんしょうNeutralFor quantities decreasing. 「下降」 is about height or level going down; when the amount itself shrinks, 「減少」 is the usual word.
• Related縮小しゅくしょうNeutralFor scale or scope shrinking. 「下降」 is about position or figures dropping and is not used for scale.
• Related減量げんりょうNeutralFor losing body weight or reducing quantity, often dieting. 「下降」 is about position or degree moving down.
• Related減退げんたいWrittenWritten word for strength, appetite, demand or influence fading — carries a sense of weakening. 「下降」 focuses on position or figures going down.
• Related退潮たいちょうWrittenWritten word for the tide going out, by extension for influence waning. 「下降」 is more objective and neutral.
• Related減殺げんさいWrittenFormal written word for weakening or diminishing an effect; also a civil-law term. 「下降」 is about position or figures dropping.
• Related漸減ぜんげんWrittenWritten word for a gradual decrease — stresses slowness. 「下降」 says nothing about pace.
• Related低減ていげんWrittenWritten word for deliberately cutting costs, risks and the like. 「下降」 suggests a natural downward trend.
• Related下向くしたむくNeutralFor looking or pointing down, or for prices and conditions starting to turn bad — stresses the shift in direction. 「下降」 describes an actual drop.
• Related下垂かすいWrittenWritten word for things drooping or hanging down, e.g. eyelids or organs. 「下降」 is an overall move down in position or degree.
• Antonym上昇じょうしょうNeutralAntonym: rising in position or degree, the direct opposite of 「下降」; works for temperatures, prices and more.
• Antonym上向きうわむきNeutralAntonym: pointing up or a market trend turning upward — opposite of 「下降」 in the sense of trends.

Use 「下降」 for heights, temperatures or figures going down. Say 「低下」 for ability or quality, 「下落」 for falling prices, 「減少」 for shrinking amounts, 「下がる」 in daily speech. 「落ちる」 is the all-purpose everyday verb for falling; 「落ち込む」 covers moods and slumps; 「ダウン」 is colloquial. Written: 「低落」 (value, popularity), 「降下」 (from a height), 「減退」 (strength fading), 「低減」 (deliberate cuts), 「漸減」 (gradual). 「縮小」 is for scale, 「減量」 for weight, 「下向く」 for a turning trend. Opposite: 「上昇」, or 「上向き」 for an upturn.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 位置いちや程度ていどが下したにさがること。