降りる・下りる|おりるoriru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
降りる降りる（おりる） is the most common written form; beginners should use it by default for the senses “to descend,” “to go down,” “to come down,” and “to alight.”
下りる下りる（おりる） is a less common kanji-and-kana spelling of the same word. You may encounter it in writing, but beginners should generally choose 降りる instead.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto descend (e.g. a mountain); to go down; to come downesp. 下りる
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto alight (e.g. from bus); to get off; to disembark; to dismountesp. 降りるここで降りましょう。↗Let's get off here.
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto step down; to retire; to give up; to quit; to fold
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be granted; to be issued; to be givenesp. 下りる
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto form (of frost, dew, mist, etc.)esp. 降りる
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be passed (from the body; e.g. of a roundworm)esp. 下りる
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 降りる（おりる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 降ります（おります） |
| Negative (nai) | 降りない（おりない） |
| polite (masen) | 降りません（おりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 降りず・降りぬ（おりず・おりぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 降りた（おりた） |
| polite (mashita) | 降りました（おりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 降りなかった（おりなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 降りませんでした（おりませんでした） |
| Te form | 降りて（おりて） |
| Potential | 降りられる（おりられる） |
| Passive | 降りられる（おりられる） |
| Causative | 降りさせる（おりさせる） |
| Causative passive | 降りさせられる（おりさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 降りれば（おりれば） |
| tara | 降りたら（おりたら） |
| Volitional | 降りよう（おりよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 降りましょう（おりましょう） |
| Imperative | 降りろ（おりろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
電車を降りる
客を降ろす
降りる describes a person getting off a vehicle (as in 電車を降りる), while 下ろす describes the act of letting someone off (as in 客を降ろす).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related辞めるやめるNeutralFor quitting a job or post — the 'step down' sense of 「降りる」 — the everyday, most common word for resigning.
- Related辞任じにんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Resigning from a specific post, typically by officials or directors, as in 「大臣を辞任する」.
- Related辞職じしょくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Voluntarily resigning the job or post one holds, as in 「辞職願」; common for civil servants and employees.
- Related退陣たいじんWrittenWritten/formal prose. A leader or leadership stepping down, as in 「内閣が退陣する」; mostly seen in political news.
- Related辞すじすWrittenWritten/formal prose. To take one's leave or to resign or decline, with a dignified, ceremonious tone.
- RelatedどくNeutralWhen read 「どく」, means to step aside or make way, as in 「ちょっとどいて」; leans colloquial.
- Related棄権きけんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Waiving the right to vote or withdrawing from a contest, as in 「試合を棄権する」.
- Related下馬げばWrittenWritten/formal prose. Specifically dismounting from a horse; in old times also dismounting before a gate as a sign of respect.
- RelatedリタイアCasualColloquial loanword for dropping out of a race or match partway, or retiring, as in 「レースをリタイアする」.
- Related辞するじするWrittenWritten/formal prose. To take one's leave or resign, as in 「職を辞する」; synonymous with 「辞す」.
- Related下乗げじょうWrittenWritten/formal prose and archaic. Dismounting or getting off, especially before a noble person or shrine as a sign of respect.
- Antonym上がるあがるNeutralThe antonym of 「降りる」: moving from low to high; also for entering a house or entering a school.
- Antonym上るのぼるNeutralSame word as the previous entry, also written 「上る」; the opposite of 「降りる」, for going from low to high.
Use 「降りる」 for coming down from a height or getting off a bus or train. For leaving a job, the everyday word is 「辞める」; formal 「辞任」「辞職」 cover posts, 「退陣」 leaders in political news, and 「辞す」「辞する」 are dignified written options. In contests use 「棄権」 or colloquial 「リタイア」; 「どく」 means stepping aside, 「下馬」「下乗」 dismounting, and 「上がる」 is the antonym for going up.
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
