At the A1 level, you should learn 'taoreru' as a simple word for 'to fall down.' Focus on physical objects that you can see. Think of things like a bottle on a table tipping over or a tree in a picture falling down. At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex grammar. Just remember the basic pattern: 'Something ga taoremasu.' For example, 'Ki ga taoremasu' (The tree falls). You might hear this in simple stories or see it in picture books. It is important to distinguish this from 'ochiru' (falling from a high place). If you are standing and you fall, use 'taoreru'. If you fall off a chair, you might use 'ochiru' because you are moving from a higher level to a lower level. Keep your sentences short and focus on clear, physical actions that involve something toppling over. You can also use it for simple games, like when a tower of blocks falls down. The key is the movement from a vertical position to a horizontal one.
At the A2 level, you begin to use 'taoreru' in more realistic daily contexts, especially regarding health and weather. You should be able to explain 'why' something fell using the 'de' particle. For instance, 'Kaze de ki ga taoreta' (The tree fell due to the wind). This is also the stage where you learn to use it for people getting sick or fainting. If someone works too hard and gets sick, you say 'Byouki de taoreta.' This is a very common expression in Japanese culture. You should also be comfortable with the past tense 'taoreta' and the polite form 'taoremashita.' You might use this word when reporting a small accident or describing a scene you witnessed. It's also useful for describing things in your house, like a vase that fell over because of a cat. You are building the ability to connect the verb to a cause and a result, making your Japanese sound more natural and descriptive.
At the B1 level, you should start using 'taoreru' in abstract and metaphorical ways. This includes the 'collapse' of companies or the 'fall' of a government. You will encounter this word in news articles and more complex reading materials. You should also understand the difference between 'taoreru' (intransitive) and 'taosu' (transitive) clearly. At this level, you might use the 'te-shimau' form to express regret or a negative outcome, such as 'Taorete shimatta' (It fell down, unfortunately). You should also be able to use it in conditional sentences, like 'Jishin ga kitara, kono tana wa taoreru kamoshirenai' (If an earthquake comes, this shelf might fall over). Your vocabulary should expand to include related words like 'tousan' (bankruptcy) which uses the same kanji. You are moving beyond simple physical descriptions into the realm of social and economic consequences. You should also be able to describe more specific directions or manners of falling, such as 'yoko ni taoreru' (fall sideways).
At the B2 level, you should be able to use 'taoreru' in formal discussions and recognize its use in literature. You will understand the nuance of using 'taoreru' versus more formal terms like 'tentou' or 'toukai.' You can discuss social issues like 'karoushi' (death from overwork) and use 'taoreru' to describe the physical collapse that precedes such tragedies. You should also be able to use the potential, passive, and causative forms of the verb, even if some are less common. For example, understanding how 'taoreru' fits into complex sentence structures involving multiple clauses. You will see 'taoreru' used in historical contexts, such as the fall of a castle or a dynasty. Your understanding of the word should include its emotional weight—how it can signify defeat, exhaustion, or a sudden, shocking change in status. You should be able to explain these nuances to others and choose the most appropriate synonym based on the register of the conversation.
At the C1 level, you possess a deep, nuanced understanding of 'taoreru' and can identify its use in classical or highly formal Japanese literature. You recognize the subtle differences between 'taoreru' and its many synonyms in various professional fields, such as law, medicine, or architecture. You can use the word to describe complex systemic failures in a sophisticated manner. For example, discussing the 'collapse' of a philosophical argument or a long-standing tradition. You are also aware of idiomatic expressions and rare kanji compounds that include '倒'. Your ability to use the word is fluid, allowing you to use it poetically or metaphorically in creative writing. You understand the historical evolution of the word and its kanji, and how it relates to the concept of 'overturning' in East Asian thought. You can engage in high-level debates about economic stability or public health using this vocabulary with precision and stylistic flair.
At the C2 level, your mastery of 'taoreru' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You can appreciate and employ the word in all its possible connotations, from the most mundane physical act to the most profound metaphorical collapse. You can interpret and translate complex texts where 'taoreru' might be used as a central motif for human fragility or the transience of power. You are familiar with obscure proverbs and archaic uses of the word. Your command of the register allows you to switch effortlessly between the colloquial 'taoreru' and the highly technical terms used in structural engineering or macroeconomics. You can use the word to convey irony, sarcasm, or deep pathos. In essence, 'taoreru' is no longer just a vocabulary item but a flexible tool in your vast linguistic repertoire, used with perfect grammatical accuracy and cultural sensitivity across all domains of communication.

倒れる 30초 만에

  • To fall over from a standing position.
  • Used for people fainting or getting sick.
  • Used for companies going bankrupt.
  • Intransitive verb (uses 'ga' particle).

The Japanese verb 倒れる (taoreru) is a fundamental intransitive verb that primarily translates to 'to fall down,' 'to collapse,' or 'to topple over.' Unlike English, which often uses 'fall' for everything from falling off a cliff to falling while walking, Japanese distinguishes between the nature of the fall. Taoreru specifically describes an object or person that was originally in a vertical or standing position losing its balance and ending up in a horizontal or prone position. It is the natural result of gravity or force acting upon something upright. This word is essential for CEFR A2 learners because it covers a wide range of everyday situations, from physical accidents to medical emergencies and even business failures.

Physical Objects
When used for inanimate objects, 倒れる refers to things like trees, poles, buildings, or furniture. For example, during a typhoon, a tree might fall over (木が倒れる). It implies that the base of the object stayed roughly in place while the top part moved toward the ground. It is not used for things falling 'down' from a height (like a cup falling off a table), which would use 落ちる (ochiru).

強い風で看板が倒れました。 (The sign fell down due to the strong wind.)

Human Health and Fainting
In a biological context, taoreru is frequently used when someone collapses or faints due to illness, fatigue, or shock. This is a very common way to describe someone being hospitalized for overwork in Japan, known as karoushi culture. If a person falls because they tripped while walking, they might use korobu, but if they fall because they lost consciousness or their legs gave out, taoreru is the correct choice.
Economic and Abstract Collapse
Beyond the physical, taoreru extends to the collapse of systems or organizations. A company going bankrupt is often described as 会社が倒れる. Similarly, a government or a regime can 'fall' using this verb. This abstract usage highlights the idea of a standing structure (the organization) losing its support and crashing down.

不景気で多くの会社が倒れました。 (Many companies collapsed/went under due to the recession.)

In summary, taoreru is a versatile verb that captures the transition from standing to lying down. Whether it is a bicyclist falling over, a vase toppling on a shelf, or a person collapsing from the summer heat, this word is the go-to expression. It is an intransitive verb (jidoushi), meaning the focus is on the subject that falls, not on who pushed it. If you want to say you pushed something over, you would use the transitive counterpart, 倒す (taosu).

Using 倒れる (taoreru) correctly requires an understanding of Japanese particles and verb transitivity. As an intransitive verb, it is almost always paired with the particle が (ga) to indicate the subject that is falling. It describes a change in state that happens to the subject. Unlike 'to fall' in English, which can sometimes take an object in poetic sense, taoreru never takes a direct object with 'o'.

Sentence Structure
The basic pattern is [Subject] + + 倒れる. To describe the cause of the fall, you use the particle で (de). For example, 'Falling due to illness' is 病気で倒れる. 'Falling due to an earthquake' is 地震で倒れる.

おじいさんは道で急に倒れました。 (The elderly man suddenly collapsed on the street.)

Conjugation Basics
As a Ichidan verb (Group 2), it conjugates easily:
- Dictionary Form: 倒れる (taoreru)
- Polite Form: 倒れます (taoremasu)
- Past Form: 倒れた (taoreta)
- Negative Form: 倒れない (taorenai)
- Te-form: 倒れて (taorete)

When you want to describe the direction of the fall, you can use particles like 前に (mae ni - forward) or 後ろに (ushiro ni - backward). For example, 後ろに倒れる means to fall backward. In competitive sports or games, taoreru can also mean to be defeated, often used in the context of a 'fallen' hero or a defeated boss in a video game, though makeru (to lose) is more common for the result of the game itself.

ボクサーがパンチを受けて倒れました。 (The boxer took a punch and fell down.)

You will encounter 倒れる (taoreru) in many different layers of Japanese society. In the news, it is a frequent keyword during natural disasters. Japan is prone to earthquakes and typhoons, and news anchors often report on 倒壊 (toukai - collapsing buildings) or 電柱が倒れる (utility poles falling). During the sweltering Japanese summer, the word appears daily in reports about 熱中症 (nechuushou - heatstroke), where people 倒れる in the streets or at schools.

In Anime and Manga
In action genres, taoreru is used when a character is finally brought down after a long battle. You might hear a villain scream, 'Why won't you fall?!' (なぜ倒れない?!). It adds a sense of physical weight and finality to the defeat. It is also used in dramatic scenes where a character collapses from emotional shock or hidden illness, a common trope in dramas.

彼は過労でついに倒れてしまった。 (He finally collapsed from overwork.)

Daily Life and Safety
In everyday life, you might hear this word at a construction site or a store. If a shelf looks unstable, someone might warn you, 'It's dangerous because it might fall over' (倒れるかもしれないから危ないですよ). Parents use it with children who are playing with tall stacks of blocks. It is also used in the context of bicycles. In Japan, where cycling is common, wind often knocks over rows of parked bikes, leading to the phrase 自転車が倒れている.

Furthermore, in sports commentary, particularly in sumo wrestling or martial arts, the moment a competitor touches the ground is described using variations of taoreru. It signifies the end of the match or a significant point of impact. Understanding this word helps you grasp the severity of physical and institutional events in Japanese society.

One of the most common mistakes for English speakers is confusing 倒れる (taoreru) with other 'falling' verbs like 転ぶ (korobu) or 落ちる (ochiru). Because English uses the word 'fall' for all of these, learners often default to one and use it in the wrong context. Understanding the physical mechanics of each verb is the key to avoiding these errors.

Taoreru vs. Korobu
Korobu specifically means to trip or tumble while moving (like walking or running). If you trip on a rock and skin your knee, that is korobu. Taoreru is a more complete collapse. If you are standing still and suddenly faint, that is taoreru, not korobu. You cannot say a tree 'korobu' because a tree doesn't walk; a tree 'taoreru'.

× 石につまずいて倒れた。 (Incorrect context for a simple trip)
○ 石につまずいて転んだ。 (Correct: Tripped over a stone.)

Taoreru vs. Ochiru
Ochiru means to fall down from a high place to a lower place (vertical drop). If a pen falls off a desk, it ochiru. If a pen is standing in a pen holder and tips over onto the desk, it taoreru. Using ochiru for a person fainting sounds like they fell off a building.
The 'Ga' vs 'O' Mistake
Because taoreru is intransitive, you should never use it with the object particle (o). If you say 本を倒れる, it is grammatically incorrect. It must be 本が倒れる (The book falls over). If you are the one doing the knocking over, use 本を倒す.

Finally, avoid using taoreru for weather. In English, we say 'the rain is falling,' but in Japanese, rain furu (降る). If you say 雨が倒れる, a Japanese person might imagine a literal wall of water tipping over, which is quite a surreal image!

Japanese has a rich vocabulary for describing various types of 'falling' or 'collapsing.' Depending on the nuance you want to convey—whether it's a medical collapse, a structural failure, or a business bankruptcy—you might choose a more specific word than the general 倒れる (taoreru).

崩れる (Kuzureru)
This verb means 'to crumble' or 'to lose shape.' While taoreru implies a rigid object tipping over, kuzureru is used for things that disintegrate, like a sandcastle, a mountain (landslide), or a pile of laundry. It's also used for weather patterns or a person's facial expression 'breaking' into tears.
卒倒する (Sottou suru)
This is a more formal, medical term for fainting or swooning. While you can use taoreru in a hospital, sottou suru specifically emphasizes the loss of consciousness. You might see this in literature or medical reports.

驚きのあまり、その場で卒倒してしまった。 (I was so shocked I fainted on the spot.)

倒産する (Tousan suru)
When a business 'falls,' taoreru is colloquial, but tousan suru is the official term for bankruptcy. If you are writing a business report or reading the newspaper, you will see 倒産. It uses the same 'tao' kanji (倒) as taoreru.
転倒する (Tentou suru)
This is the formal version of taoreru or korobu. You will hear this in news reports about elderly people falling or athletes falling during a race. It is a Sino-Japanese (Kango) word that sounds more clinical and objective.

Choosing the right word depends on the level of formality and the specific physics of the fall. For most daily conversations, taoreru is the most reliable and natural choice for anything that was upright and is now down.

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

The kanji 倒 is also used in 'mendousai' (troublesome) in some older contexts, though usually written in kana today.

발음 가이드

UK ta.o.re.ru
US tɑ.o.re.ru
The pitch starts low on 'ta', rises on 'o', and stays relatively flat or drops slightly on 'reru'.
라임이 맞는 단어
Aoreru (to fan/instigate) Kaoreru (to smell - though rare form) Taoreru (itself) Nureru (to get wet) Kureru (to give) Hareru (to clear up) Wureru (to be sold) Yureru (to shake)
자주 하는 실수
  • Pronouncing the 'r' as an English 'r' with curled tongue.
  • Stress on the first syllable like 'TA-oreru'.
  • Confusing the 'o' with 'u' sound.

난이도

독해 2/5

The kanji is common but distinct. Easy to recognize once learned.

쓰기 3/5

The kanji '倒' has several strokes but follows standard radical patterns.

말하기 2/5

Easy to pronounce, but must be careful with transitivity (taoreru vs taosu).

듣기 2/5

Clearly audible in news and daily speech.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

木 (tree) 風 (wind) 病気 (illness) が (particle) です/ます

다음에 배울 것

倒す (taosu) 転ぶ (korobu) 落ちる (ochiru) 崩れる (kuzureru)

고급

倒産 (tousan) 倒壊 (toukai) 圧倒 (attou) 卒倒 (sottou)

수준별 예문

1

木が倒れました。

The tree fell down.

Basic subject + ga + verb structure.

2

コップが倒れた。

The cup tipped over.

Informal past tense.

3

自転車が倒れています。

The bicycle is lying on the ground.

Te-iru form shows the current state.

4

あぶない!倒れるよ!

Watch out! It's going to fall!

Dictionary form used as a future/imminent warning.

5

本が倒れました。

The book fell over.

Polite past tense.

6

花瓶が倒れないようにしてください。

Please make sure the vase doesn't fall.

Negative form + you ni (so that).

7

いすが倒れた。

The chair fell over.

Simple noun + ga + verb.

8

つみきが倒れて、悲しいです。

The blocks fell over, and I'm sad.

Te-form used to connect a cause and emotion.

1

強い風で木が倒れました。

The tree fell down because of the strong wind.

'De' particle indicates the cause (wind).

2

昨日、父が病気で倒れました。

Yesterday, my father collapsed due to illness.

'De' indicates the reason for the collapse.

3

地震でビルが倒れました。

The building collapsed in the earthquake.

Using 'taoreru' for structural collapse.

4

疲れてその場に倒れてしまった。

I was tired and ended up collapsing right there.

'Te-shimau' expresses a sense of completion or regret.

5

看板が道に倒れています。

The sign is lying in the road.

'Ni' indicates the location where it fell.

6

重い荷物を持って倒れそうになった。

I almost fell while carrying heavy luggage.

'Sou ni naru' means 'almost happened.'

7

暑さで多くの人が倒れました。

Many people collapsed due to the heat.

Plural subject implied by context.

8

お酒を飲みすぎて倒れた。

I drank too much and collapsed.

'Sugite' (too much) as a reason.

1

不景気の影響で、その会社は倒れた。

Due to the recession, that company went under.

Metaphorical use for business failure.

2

彼は過労で倒れるまで働き続けた。

He kept working until he collapsed from overwork.

'Made' (until) used with the verb.

3

古い建物が今にも倒れそうです。

The old building looks like it could collapse at any moment.

'Sou desu' (looks like/appears).

4

ボクサーが強力なパンチで倒れた。

The boxer fell from a powerful punch.

Specifying the force with 'de'.

5

政権が倒れるのは時間の問題だ。

It's only a matter of time before the government falls.

Abstract use for political power.

6

雪の重みで屋根が倒れてしまった。

The roof collapsed under the weight of the snow.

'Omomi' (weight) as the cause.

7

彼はショックな知らせを聞いて倒れた。

He collapsed after hearing the shocking news.

Emotional cause for physical collapse.

8

並んでいた自転車が次々と倒れた。

The parked bicycles fell over one after another.

'Tsugitsugi to' (one after another).

1

その独裁政権は民衆の手によって倒れた。

The dictatorial regime was toppled by the hands of the people.

Abstract usage in a historical/political context.

2

記録が倒れる瞬間を目の当たりにした。

I witnessed the moment the record was broken (fell).

Metaphorical use for records being surpassed.

3

彼は病に倒れたが、不屈の精神で復帰した。

He fell ill, but returned with an indomitable spirit.

Literary phrasing 'yamai ni taoreru'.

4

大雨で土砂崩れが起き、家が倒れた。

Heavy rain caused a landslide, and houses collapsed.

Describing a sequence of natural events.

5

経営が悪化し、倒れる寸前の企業が多い。

Management has worsened, and many companies are on the verge of collapse.

'Sunzen' (on the verge of).

6

彼はあまりの忙しさに倒れんばかりだった。

He was so busy he was almost about to collapse.

'N bakari' (as if/almost).

7

古い大木が倒れ、道をふさいでいる。

A huge old tree fell and is blocking the road.

Describing the resulting state and action.

8

彼はライバルを倒すために、まずは自分が倒れないように鍛えた。

In order to defeat his rival, he first trained so that he himself wouldn't fall.

Contrast between 'taosu' (transitive) and 'taoreru' (intransitive).

1

その王朝は内乱によって脆くも倒れた。

The dynasty fell fragilely due to internal strife.

Use of 'moroku mo' (fragilely/easily) to add nuance.

2

近代化の波の中で、古い習慣が倒れていった。

Amidst the wave of modernization, old customs fell away.

Metaphorical use for traditions or customs.

3

彼は過酷な労働環境下で、心身ともに倒れてしまった。

Under harsh working conditions, he collapsed both mentally and physically.

Describing both physical and mental state.

4

巨木が倒れるような轟音が響き渡った。

A roar like a giant tree falling echoed throughout.

Simile using 'taoreru you na'.

5

バブル崩壊後、多くの金融機関が倒れる事態となった。

After the bubble burst, many financial institutions ended up collapsing.

'Jitai to natta' (became a situation where...).

6

彼は信念のために倒れることを厭わなかった。

He did not hesitate to fall (die/fail) for his beliefs.

'Itowanai' (did not mind/hesitate).

7

その理論は、新たな証拠によって根底から倒れた。

That theory was overturned from its foundations by new evidence.

Metaphorical use for logic or theories.

8

老舗の旅館が、後継者不足で倒れていくのは忍びない。

It is unbearable to see long-established inns collapse due to a lack of successors.

Expressing emotional stance 'shinobinai'.

1

諸行無常の響きと共に、栄華を極めた平家もまた倒れた。

With the sound of impermanence, the Taira clan, who had reached the height of prosperity, also fell.

Literary allusion to the Heike Monogatari.

2

その巨大な利権構造は、内部告発によって一気に倒壊した。

That massive structure of vested interests collapsed all at once due to a whistleblower.

Using 'toukai' (collapse) as a more formal noun-verb form.

3

彼は自らの野望の重みに耐えかねて、静かに倒れていった。

Unable to bear the weight of his own ambition, he quietly fell.

Poetic phrasing using 'taorete itta'.

4

既存のパラダイムが倒れる時、新たな創造が始まる。

When the existing paradigm falls, new creation begins.

Philosophical usage.

5

幾多の試練に倒れることなく、彼は目的を遂行した。

Without falling to numerous trials, he accomplished his goal.

Double negative 'taoreru koto naku' for emphasis.

6

その国の経済は、外圧に抗いきれず倒れる寸前まで追い込まれた。

The country's economy was pushed to the brink of collapse, unable to resist external pressure.

Complex causative-passive structure.

7

歴史の荒波に揉まれ、かつての強国も次々と倒れていった。

Tossed by the rough waves of history, former great powers fell one after another.

Metaphorical and literary imagery.

8

精神の均衡が倒れる時、人は深淵を覗き込むことになる。

When the balance of the mind falls, one ends up staring into the abyss.

Deeply psychological and abstract usage.

자주 쓰는 조합

木が倒れる
過労で倒れる
会社が倒れる
後ろに倒れる
熱中症で倒れる
ドミノが倒れる
看板が倒れる
政権が倒れる
記録が倒れる
病に倒れる

자주 쓰는 구문

倒れそうになる

— To almost fall over.

めまいで倒れそうになった。

倒れてしまう

— To fall down (regrettably).

自転車が倒れてしまった。

倒れるまで

— Until one collapses.

倒れるまで頑張る。

倒れる心配

— Worry about falling.

この棚は倒れる心配がない。

倒れる場所

— The place where something falls.

倒れる場所が悪かった。

倒れる方向

— The direction of the fall.

倒れる方向を確認する。

倒れる寸前

— On the verge of falling.

会社は倒れる寸前だ。

倒れるわけにはいかない

— Cannot afford to fall/fail.

まだ倒れるわけにはいかない。

倒れるように寝る

— To sleep as if collapsing (very tired).

帰宅して倒れるように寝た。

倒れる音

— The sound of falling.

大きな木が倒れる音がした。

관용어 및 표현

"病に倒れる"

— To be struck down by illness.

彼は志半ばで病に倒れた。

Literary
"木が倒れるような"

— A massive, loud collapse.

木が倒れるような音で目が覚めた。

Descriptive
"倒れるまで働く"

— To work oneself to the point of collapse.

彼は倒れるまで働くつもりだ。

Work culture
"倒れればそれまで"

— If you fall/fail, that's the end.

倒れればそれまでだ、全力でやれ。

Colloquial
"一気に倒れる"

— To collapse all at once.

その組織は一気に倒れた。

General
"前のめりに倒れる"

— To fall forward (often implies dying while moving forward).

彼は前のめりに倒れた。

Dramatic
"根こそぎ倒れる"

— To be uprooted and fall.

大木が根こそぎ倒れた。

Nature
"バタバタ倒れる"

— Falling down one after another (like flies).

暑さで人がバタバタ倒れた。

Colloquial
"倒れるのも無理はない"

— It's no wonder they collapsed.

あれだけ働けば、倒れるのも無理はない。

Empathetic
"倒れてもただでは起きない"

— Even if you fall, don't get up for nothing (learn from failure).

彼は倒れてもただでは起きない男だ。

Proverbial

어휘 가족

명사

倒壊 (toukai) - collapse of a building
倒産 (tousan) - bankruptcy
転倒 (tentou) - falling over

동사

倒す (taosu) - to knock over (transitive)
圧倒する (attou suru) - to overwhelm

관련

落ちる (ochiru) - to fall down (gravity)
転ぶ (korobu) - to trip
崩れる (kuzureru) - to crumble

암기하기

기억법

'Ta-o-re-ru' sounds like 'Tower-u'. A tower falling down is 'taoreru'.

시각적 연상

Imagine a tall 'T' shape tipping over until it is a flat '-' shape.

Word Web

Falling Collapse Faint Bankruptcy Tree Earthquake Overwork Intransitive

챌린지

Try to find three things in your room that could 'taoreru' if there was an earthquake.

어원

The word is composed of the kanji '倒' (tou/tao) which consists of the 'person' radical (亻) and 'arrival' (到). It implies a person arriving at the ground (falling).

원래 의미: To topple over, to lie down, to be defeated.

Japonic (Yamato Kotoba).

문화적 맥락

Be careful when using 'taoreru' about people; it usually implies they are hurt or sick, not just clumsy.

English speakers often say 'I fell,' but Japanese requires you to choose between 'taoreru' (collapse) and 'korobu' (trip).

The fall of the Heike clan (Heike Monogatari). Boxing matches where the 'down' is called 'taoreta'. Anime scenes of heroes collapsing after a final blow.
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