Explanation at your level:
Hi there! 下がる (sagaru) is a Japanese word that means 'to go down' or 'to fall'. Imagine a ball falling to the ground, or the sun going down in the evening. That's sagaru! You can use it when something gets lower. For example, if the temperature gets colder, we say the temperature goes down. Or if a price gets cheaper, the price goes down. It's a simple word for a simple idea: moving from high to low. You can say 'The temperature is going down!' (Kion ga sagatte imasu!) or 'The price went down!' (Nedan ga sagatta!). Keep practicing, and you'll get it!
Hello! 下がる (sagaru) is a useful Japanese verb meaning 'to go down', 'to fall', or 'to decrease'. It's used for many situations. For instance, when the weather gets colder, the temperature ga sagaru (temperature goes down). If you see a price tag and the price is lower than before, the price ga sagaru (price goes down). It can also describe physical movement, like an elevator ga sagaru (elevator goes down). Remember, it's about something naturally moving to a lower position or level. Try using it to describe changes you see around you!
Let's explore 下がる (sagaru), a versatile Japanese verb meaning 'to go down', 'to fall', 'to drop', or 'to decrease'. It's frequently used in everyday contexts. For example, you might say ki ga sagaru (気温が下がる) when the temperature drops, or nedan ga sagaru (値段が下がる) if prices are reduced. It can also describe a decline in abstract qualities, such as hyōka ga sagaru (評価が下がる), meaning reputation or evaluation decreases. Physically, it can refer to an elevator descending (エレベーターが下がる). Understanding sagaru helps you describe changes in levels, prices, and even abstract values. It's an intransitive verb, so the subject itself is what goes down.
下がる (sagaru) is a fundamental Japanese verb that signifies a downward movement, decrease, or lowering. Its applications range from the literal, like a physical object descending (e.g., an elevator ga sagaru), to abstract concepts such as a drop in temperature (ki ga sagaru), a fall in prices (nedan ga sagaru), or a decline in reputation (hyōka ga sagaru). It's crucial to distinguish sagaru from its transitive counterpart, sageru (to lower something). Sagaru describes the subject's inherent movement downwards. You might also encounter it in expressions like ki ga sagaru (気が下がる), meaning to feel discouraged. Mastering sagaru allows for nuanced descriptions of change and movement.
The Japanese verb 下がる (sagaru) denotes a descent, decline, or reduction, applicable across physical and abstract domains. Its core meaning revolves around a subject moving from a higher to a lower state. This includes literal descents like elevators (エレベーターが下がる) and atmospheric changes such as temperature drops (気温が下がる). Abstract applications are extensive, encompassing economic indicators (株価が下がる - stock prices fall), social standing (評価が下がる - evaluation drops), and even emotional states (気が下がる - to feel discouraged). The intransitive nature of sagaru is key; it describes a process occurring to the subject itself, contrasting with the transitive sageru (to lower something). Recognizing its usage in idiomatic expressions further deepens comprehension of its semantic range.
下がる (sagaru) is a polysemous intransitive verb in Japanese, signifying a spectrum of downward movements and decreases. Its etymological roots in '下' (down) provide a clear semantic anchor. Beyond its literal applications—describing the physical descent of objects, changes in altitude, or the ebb of tides—sagaru extends to abstract domains. This includes economic fluctuations (e.g., kabu-ka ga sagaru, stock prices falling), shifts in social perception (hyōka ga sagaru, reputation declining), and psychological states (ki ga sagaru, feeling disheartened). The verb's intransitivity contrasts sharply with the causative sageru, highlighting the subject's passive or inherent tendency to descend. Advanced usage may involve subtle connotations of loss, deterioration, or humility, often contextualized within specific cultural expressions and literary devices, demonstrating a profound grasp of Japanese linguistic nuance.
Word in 30 Seconds
- 下がる (sagaru) means 'to go down', 'fall', or 'decrease'.
- Used for temperature, prices, levels, reputation, mood, and physical descent.
- It's an intransitive verb (something goes down by itself).
- Common collocations include 気温が下がる, 値段が下がる, and 気分が下がる.
Hey there! Let's dive into the awesome Japanese verb 下がる (sagaru). This word is super handy because it covers a lot of ground when we talk about things moving downwards or decreasing. Think of it as the opposite of going up! It can describe a physical drop, like an elevator going down, or a more abstract decrease, such as a drop in temperature or prices. We use it all the time in daily life, so getting a good grip on it will really boost your Japanese skills!
Imagine a balloon losing air and slowly descending – that's sagaru. Or maybe your grades have dropped after a tough exam period; that's also sagaru. It's a versatile verb that paints a clear picture of something moving from a higher state to a lower one. We'll explore its many uses, from the literal to the figurative, so you can start using it confidently in your conversations and writing. Get ready to expand your Japanese vocabulary!
The kanji 下 (shita) itself means 'below' or 'down', and がる (garu) is a suffix that often turns adjectives or other words into verbs, indicating a state or an action. So, literally, 下がる means to 'become down' or 'act as being down'. This makes its core meaning very intuitive!
Historically, the concept of 'down' is fundamental across languages, often associated with gravity, falling, and a lower position. The evolution of sagaru is tied to the development of Japanese grammar, where suffixes like garu were used to create dynamic verbs from static concepts. While not as dramatic as some etymologies, the straightforward combination of 'down' and a verbalizing suffix gives us a verb that's both ancient in concept and practical in modern use. It's a great example of how Japanese kanji and grammatical structures work together to create clear meanings.
Sagaru is a fantastic verb for describing a wide range of downward movements and decreases. You'll often hear it used in contexts like temperature drops (気温が下がる - ki ga sagaru), price reductions (値段が下がる - nedan ga sagaru), or even a decrease in quality (質が下がる - shitsu ga sagaru). It's also used for physical descent, like an elevator (エレベーターが下がる - erebētā ga sagaru) or a person stepping down from a stage.
When talking about abstract concepts, it can refer to a decline in reputation (評価が下がる - hyōka ga sagaru) or a lowering of standards. It's important to note that sagaru is an intransitive verb, meaning it describes something happening by itself or to the subject, rather than an action performed on an object. For instance, you don't 'sagaru something'; something 'sagarus'. This makes it different from transitive verbs like 下げる (sageru), which means 'to lower something'. Understanding this distinction is key to using sagaru correctly in various situations, from casual chats to more formal reports.
While sagaru itself is quite direct, it appears in phrases that add a bit of color. Let's look at some!
- 気が下がる (ki ga sagaru): This idiom means to feel discouraged, disheartened, or lose one's enthusiasm. It's like your spirit is sinking. Example: 試験に落ちて、気が下がった。(Shiken ni ochite, ki ga sagatta.) - After failing the exam, I felt discouraged.
- 潮が引く (shio ga hiku): Although this literally means 'the tide goes out', the concept of something receding or lowering is similar to sagaru. It implies a decrease or withdrawal. Example: 満潮から干潮へと潮が引いていく。(Manchō kara kanchō e to shio ga hiite iku.) - The tide recedes from high tide to low tide.
- 腰が低い (koshi ga hikui): This is an interesting one! Literally 'waist is low', it describes someone who is humble, modest, and deferential. It’s about having a low posture of respect. Example: 彼はいつも腰が低く、誰にでも丁寧だ。(Kare wa itsumo koshi ga hikuku, dare ni demo teinei da.) - He is always humble and polite to everyone.
- 肩を落とす (kata o otosu): Similar to ki ga sagaru, this means to be dejected or disappointed, as if your shoulders have dropped with sadness. Example: 試合に負けて、選手たちは肩を落としていた。(Shiai ni makete, senshu-tachi wa kata o otoshite ita.) - After losing the match, the players were dejected.
- 顔が下を向く (kao ga shita o muku): This literally means 'face turns downwards' and signifies shame, embarrassment, or sadness. Example: 失敗を指摘され、彼は顔を下に向けてしまった。(Shippai o shiteki sare, kare wa kao o shita ni mukete shimatta.) - Being pointed out for his mistake, he turned his face downwards in shame.
Sagaru is an intransitive verb, belonging to the Group 1 (ichidan) conjugation class in Japanese. This means its stem 'saga-' remains constant, and the endings change predictably. For example, the past tense is sagatta (下がった), the te-form is sagatte (下がって), and the potential form (can go down) is sagare-ru (下がれる). It's often used with particles like ga (が) to mark the subject that is decreasing or moving down, like 'temperature ga drops' (気温が下がる).
Pronunciation: The standard pronunciation is sa-ga-ru. Let's break it down: 'sa' like in 'sad', 'ga' like in 'garden', and 'ru' like the 'roo' in 'rooftop'. There isn't a significant difference in pronunciation between British and American English for this word, as it's a Japanese word. However, learners might sometimes struggle with the clear pronunciation of the final 'u' sound. Rhyming words in Japanese are based on the vowel sounds, so words ending in '-aru' like 'aruaru' (あるある - common occurrence) or 'tsukaru' (疲れる - to get tired, though this is Group 2) share a similar ending sound.
Fun Fact
The kanji '下' has been used for millennia to represent the concept of 'below' or 'down', making 'sagaru' a verb with a very visually intuitive origin.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'sah-gah-roo', with clear 'ah' vowels and a distinct 'roo' sound at the end.
Similar to UK, emphasis on clear syllables: 'sah' like in 'father', 'gah' like in 'garden', 'roo' like in 'room'.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing 'ru' too softly, making it sound like 'r'.
- Merging the 'ga' and 'ru' sounds.
- Incorrect vowel length, making 'sa' sound too short.
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to understand in simple contexts, requires more nuance for abstract or idiomatic uses.
Straightforward in basic sentences, but careful distinction from related verbs is needed for accuracy.
Easy to use in common phrases, but pronunciation and choosing the right context take practice.
Commonly heard, especially in weather and price-related discussions.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Intransitive Verbs
The subject performs the action on itself or undergoes the action. (e.g., The temperature drops.)
Transitive vs. Intransitive Pairs
下がる (intransitive) vs. 下げる (transitive).
Using the て-form for Requests/Sequences
音を下げてください (Please lower the volume).
Examples by Level
温度が下がる。
temperature / subject marker / go down / period.
The particle が (ga) marks the subject of the verb.
値段が下がる。
price / subject marker / go down / period.
Common phrase for price reduction.
太陽が下がる。
sun / subject marker / go down / period.
Used to describe sunset.
階段を下がってください。
stairs / object marker / go down / please / period.
The particle を (o) can indicate the path of movement.
音が下がる。
sound / subject marker / go down / period.
Refers to lowering volume.
気分が下がる。
feeling / subject marker / go down / period.
Means to feel down or discouraged.
水準が下がる。
standard / subject marker / go down / period.
Indicates a drop in standards.
飛行機が下がる。
airplane / subject marker / go down / period.
Describes an airplane's descent.
今日の気温は昨日より下がるでしょう。
today's / temperature / yesterday / than / go down / probably / period.
Using でしょう (deshō) for probability.
この店の品物はよく値段が下がります。
this / shop's / goods / often / price / go down / period.
Common phrase for sales.
エレベーターが一番下の階まで下がりました。
elevator / first / bottom / floor / until / went down / period.
Past tense of 下がる (sagaru).
彼の評判が少し下がったようだ。
his / reputation / a little / went down / seems / period.
Using ようだ (yōda) to express appearance or seeming.
試験の結果が悪くて、やる気が下がった。
exam / result / bad / because / motivation / went down / period.
Connects a cause (bad results) with an effect (low motivation).
夜になると、気温がぐっと下がります。
night / when it becomes / temperature / sharply / goes down / period.
ぐっと (gutto) emphasizes the degree of decrease.
この坂道を下がってください。
this / slopey road / please go down / period.
Using the te-form for polite requests.
彼の話を聞いて、気分が下がってしまった。
his / story / listening / feeling / went down / ended up / period.
しまった (shimatta) implies an unintended or regrettable outcome.
最近、物価がじわじわと下がっている。
recently / prices / slowly but surely / are going down / period.
じわじわと (jiwajiwa to) describes a slow, steady change.
彼の態度が急に下がったので、何かあったのか心配だ。
his / attitude / suddenly / went down / because / something / happened / or not / worried / period.
Using ので (node) for reason/cause.
この製品は品質が下がったと評判が悪い。
this / product / quality / went down / is / reputation / is bad / period.
Using と (to) to report what is said or believed.
成績が下がらないように、もっと勉強しなければならない。
grades / do not go down / so that / more / must study / period.
Using ないように (nai yō ni) to express purpose or intention to avoid something.
景気が下がっているので、新しい事業を始めるのは難しい。
economy / is going down / because / new / business / starting / is difficult / period.
Using ると (ru to) to indicate a reason or condition.
彼の声が低く下がり、何かを隠しているように見えた。
his / voice / low / went down / something / hiding / like / seemed / period.
Describes a change in vocal tone.
祭りの後、会場のゴミの量が下がった。
festival / after / venue / trash / amount / went down / period.
Indicates a decrease in quantity.
期待していたレベルから少し下がった気がする。
expected / level / from / a little / went down / feeling / have / period.
Using 気がする (ki ga suru) to express a feeling or intuition.
経済指標の悪化に伴い、株価が急速に下がった。
economic indicators / worsening / accompanying / stock prices / rapidly / went down / period.
に伴い (ni tomonai) means 'along with' or 'accompanying'.
彼の発言は、会議の雰囲気を一気に下げた。
his / remarks / meeting's / atmosphere / instantly / lowered / period.
This uses the transitive verb 下げる (sageru) here, but the concept of lowering is related. For intransitive: 会議の雰囲気が下がった (The atmosphere of the meeting dropped).
長引く不況で、人々の購買意欲も下がっている。
prolonged / recession / people's / purchasing desire / also / is going down / period.
購買意欲 (kōbai iyoku) refers to the desire to purchase.
その地域では、長年の努力にもかかわらず、失業率がなかなか下がらない。
that / region / in / many years' / effort / despite / unemployment rate / not going down / easily / period.
にもかかわらず (ni mo kakawarazu) means 'despite'.
彼は昇進の機会を逃し、肩を落としていた。
he / promotion / opportunity / missed / shoulders / were down / period.
肩を落とす (kata o otosu) is an idiom for being dejected.
技術の進歩により、かつては高嶺の花だったものが、今では手の届く価格まで下がった。
technology / progress / due to / once / was / high mountain flower / things / now / reach of hands / price / until / went down / period.
高嶺の花 (takane no hana) is an idiom for something unattainable.
彼の自信は、度重なる失敗によって著しく下がった。
his / confidence / repeated / failures / by / significantly / went down / period.
著しく (ichijirushiku) means 'remarkably' or 'significantly'.
このシステムは、セキュリティレベルが下がったため、更新が必要だ。
this / system / security level / went down / because / update / is necessary / period.
Expressing necessity using 必要だ (hitsuyō da).
グローバル経済の減速は、多くの国の輸出額を押し下げた。
global economy / slowdown / many countries' / export value / pushed down / period.
押し下げる (oshisageru) is the transitive form, meaning 'to push down'.
彼の発言は、長年培ってきた信頼を著しく下げかねない。
his / remarks / many years / cultivated / trust / significantly / may lower / period.
下げかねない (sagekanenai) expresses a potential negative outcome.
その地域の文化遺産は、観光客の増加に伴い、その本来の静寂さを失い、俗化が進むことで価値が下がった。
that / region's / cultural heritage / tourists / increase / accompanying / its original / tranquility / lost / commercialization / progress / by / value / went down / period.
Illustrates a decline in intrinsic value due to external factors.
度重なる延期により、プロジェクトに対する関係者の期待値は下がる一方だった。
repeated / postponements / due to / project / towards / stakeholders' / expectation value / was only going down / period.
下がる一方 (sagaru ippō) means 'continuously decreasing'.
現代社会における規範意識の低下は、様々な社会問題の根源にあると指摘されている。
modern society / within / norms awareness / decline / various / social problems / root / is / is pointed out / period.
規範意識 (kihan ishiki) refers to awareness of social norms.
彼は、自身のキャリアにおける停滞感を払拭するため、あえて困難な課題に挑戦し、士気を下げないよう努めた。
he / his / career / within / stagnation feeling / to dispel / deliberately / difficult / challenges / challenged / morale / not lower / tried to / period.
士気を下げる (shiki o sageru) means to lower morale (transitive).
その芸術家の初期の作品は、後の商業的な成功によって評価が下がったと見なされることもある。
that / artist's / early works / later / commercial success / by / evaluation / went down / is considered / sometimes / period.
Discusses how commercial success can sometimes negatively impact critical evaluation.
環境破壊が進むにつれて、生態系のバランスは下がり、多くの種の存続が危ぶまれている。
environmental destruction / progresses / as / ecosystem's / balance / goes down / many species' / survival / is feared / period.
Implies a decrease in stability and increase in risk.
グローバル経済の構造的変容は、先進国の相対的な地位を下げ、新興国への富の移転を加速させている。
global economy's / structural transformation / developed countries' / relative position / lowered / emerging countries / towards / wealth transfer / accelerating / period.
Focuses on geopolitical and economic shifts.
彼の詩は、叙情的な表現を排し、日常言語の最低限の語彙にまで意味合いを下げたことで、新たな文学的潮流を生み出した。
his / poetry / lyrical / expression / excluded / everyday language / minimum / vocabulary / to / meaning / lowered / by / new / literary trend / created / period.
Discusses a deliberate reduction in complexity to achieve artistic effect.
その都市の活気は、過度な開発と伝統的コミュニティの崩壊により、かつての面影を失い、その文化的な独自性は著しく下がった。
that / city's / vibrancy / excessive / development / and / traditional community's / collapse / by / former / appearance / lost / its cultural uniqueness / significantly / went down / period.
Explores the loss of cultural identity due to modernization.
度重なる政治的混乱は、国民の政治への信頼を底辺まで下げ、社会全体の安定性を蝕んでいる。
repeated / political turmoil / people's / politics / towards / trust / bottom / until / lowered / society's overall / stability / is eroding / period.
底辺まで下がる (teien made sagaru) implies reaching the lowest possible point.
現代アートにおける「脱構築」の潮流は、既存の価値観や権威に対する敬意を意図的に下げ、新たな解釈の余地を広げた。
contemporary art / within / 'deconstruction' / trend / existing / values / and / authority / towards / respect / intentionally / lowered / new / interpretation / space / widened / period.
Discusses artistic movements that deliberately subvert established norms.
彼の作品における象徴性の低下は、鑑賞者の解釈の自由度を広げる一方で、作品の持つ普遍的なメッセージ性を希薄化させた。
his / works / within / symbolism / decline / audience's / interpretation / freedom / broadened / on one hand / work's / possessing / universal message quality / diluted / period.
Analyzes the trade-offs between accessibility and depth in art.
その企業のブランドイメージは、度重なる不祥事により地に落ち、かつての栄光は見る影もなく下がった。
that / company's / brand image / repeated / scandals / due to / ground / fell / former / glory / trace / without / went down / period.
地に落ちる (chi ni ochiru) is an idiom for falling to the lowest level or ruin.
長引くパンデミックは、人々の社会活動への意欲を低下させ、孤立感を深める一因となった。
prolonged / pandemic / people's / social activities / towards / motivation / lowered / isolation / deepened / one cause / became / period.
低下させる (teikasaseru) is the causative form, meaning 'to cause to decrease'.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"気が下がる"
To become discouraged, disheartened, or lose enthusiasm.
試験に落ちて、気が下がった。
neutral"腰が低い"
To be humble, modest, and deferential.
彼はどんな相手にも腰が低い。
neutral"肩を落とす"
To be dejected, disappointed, or crestfallen.
試合に負けて、選手たちは肩を落としていた。
neutral"顔が下を向く"
To turn one's face downwards, indicating shame, embarrassment, or sadness.
失敗を指摘され、顔を下に向けてしまった。
neutral"潮が引く"
Literally 'the tide goes out'; metaphorically, to recede or decrease.
人気が潮が引くようになくなった。
neutral"地に落ちる"
To fall to the lowest point, to be ruined (often used for reputation or status).
彼の評判は地に落ちた。
neutralEasily Confused
Both mean 'to fall' or 'go down' in some contexts.
落ちる is typically for physical falling (ball, person), failing (exam), or dropping out. 下がる is more for levels, prices, temperature, reputation, or controlled descent.
ボールが落ちた。(Ball fell.) vs. 気温が下がった。(Temperature dropped.)
Both involve the kanji '下' (down) and are related to lowering.
下げる is transitive (you lower something). 下がる is intransitive (something goes down by itself). Example: 音を下げてください (Please lower the volume) vs. 音が下がった (The volume went down).
Please lower the volume (音を下げてください) vs. The volume went down (音が下がった).
Both can indicate a decrease.
減る is specifically for quantity or number (e.g., population, items). 下がる is for levels, prices, temperature, or abstract concepts.
人口が減った (Population decreased) vs. 物価が下がった (Prices dropped).
Both involve descent.
下りる is primarily used for descending stairs, getting off a vehicle, or for permission being granted. 下がる is more general for going down or decreasing.
階段を下りる (Go down stairs) vs. 温度が下がる (Temperature drops).
Sentence Patterns
Noun + が + 下がる
気温が下がる。
Noun + を + 下がる
坂を下がる。
Noun + が + 下がって、...
値段が下がって、買いやすくなった。
Noun + が + 下がる + 一方だ
物価が上がる一方だ。（Opposite, but shows pattern）→ 景気が下がる一方だ。
Noun + が + 下がる +Noun
評価が下がる要因。
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Related
How to Use It
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
下がる is intransitive (something goes down by itself), while 下げる is transitive (you lower something). Example: 温度が下がる (temp goes down) vs. 温度を下げる (lower the temp).
While there's overlap, 落ちる is more about falling from a height or failing, whereas 下がる is more about a gradual decrease or descent.
Example: お客さんが減った (customers decreased) not お客さんが下がった.
While 気分が下がる exists, it's less common and can sound a bit unnatural compared to 'shizumu' or 'ochikomu' for deep sadness.
Clear pronunciation helps distinguish it from similar-sounding words and ensures understanding.
Tips
Elevator Down!
Picture an elevator (sagaru) going DOWN. The 'sa' sound can remind you of 'sad', and when you're sad, your mood goes down.
Intransitive vs. Transitive
Remember: 下がる (sagaru) is intransitive (something goes down by itself). Use 下げる (sageru) when *you* lower something.
Humility in Japanese
The idiom 腰が低い (koshi ga hikui - humble) shows how 'lowering' oneself is valued in Japanese culture for showing respect.
The Magic Particle が
Most often, you'll see 下がる used with the particle が (ga) marking the subject: 気温が下がる (kion ga sagaru - temperature drops).
Clear Syllables
Say 'sa-ga-ru' distinctly. Don't rush it! Clear pronunciation is key in Japanese.
Don't Mix with 落ちる
While similar, 落ちる is for falling (physical) or failing (grades), while 下がる is more for levels, prices, and temperatures.
Ancient Roots
The concept of 'down' represented by 下 is ancient. This makes 下がる a verb with a very stable and intuitive core meaning.
Contextual Learning
Instead of memorizing 'sagaru = go down', learn phrases like 'ki ga sagaru' (feel discouraged) or 'nedan ga sagaru' (prices fall) to see it in action.
Abstract vs. Concrete
Practice using 下がる for both concrete things (elevator) and abstract things (reputation, mood) to grasp its versatility.
Nominalization
You can turn 下がる into a noun-like form: 下がり (sagari). For example, 値下がり (ne-sagari) means 'price drop'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine an elevator (sagaru) going DOWN to the basement!
Visual Association
Picture a thermometer's mercury level going down, or a price tag with a downward arrow.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to describe 5 things that went down today using 'sagaru' in Japanese sentences.
Word Origin
Japanese
Original meaning: To become down, to act as being down.
Cultural Context
No particular cultural sensitivity issues are associated with this word itself.
In English, we use various verbs like 'fall', 'drop', 'decrease', 'lower', 'descend', depending on the context. There isn't one single verb that covers all the nuances of 'sagaru'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Weather Forecast
- 明日は気温が下がるでしょう。
- 最高気温が下がる。
- 雨が降ると気温が下がる。
Shopping / Prices
- セールで値段が下がった。
- この商品の価格が下がった。
- 円安で輸入品の値段が下がった。
Personal Feelings / Mood
- 嫌なニュースを聞いて気分が下がった。
- 期待が下がった。
- やる気が下がった。
Economy / Business
- 株価が下がった。
- 景気が下がっている。
- 失業率が下がらない。
Conversation Starters
"今日の天気予報で、気温が下がると言っていましたね。何か羽織るものが必要かもしれません。"
"最近、この商品の値段が下がったみたいですよ。買おうか迷っています。"
"試験の結果が悪くて、少し気分が下がっています。何か励ましの言葉はありますか？"
"経済のニュースで、株価が下がっていると聞きました。これは投資家にとって良い兆候でしょうか？"
"この坂道、結構急ですね。下がるのが少し怖いです。"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time when your expectations 'sagaru' (went down). What happened and how did you feel?
Think about the prices of things you buy regularly. Have they 'sagaru' (gone down) recently? Write about it.
Write about a situation where someone's reputation 'sagaru' (decreased). What caused it and what were the consequences?
Describe a physical place where you often see things 'sagaru' (go down), like a ski slope or a subway station.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions下がる (sagaru) is intransitive, meaning something goes down by itself (e.g., temperature drops). 下げる (sageru) is transitive, meaning you actively lower something (e.g., you lower the volume).
Yes, you can say 気分が下がる (kibun ga sagaru) to mean feeling discouraged or down. However, 落ち込む (ochikomu) or 沈む (shizumu) are often more common for deep sadness.
Sometimes, but 落ちる (ochiru) is more common for things falling from a height (like a ball falling). 下がる might be used for a controlled descent, like an elevator.
Use 減る (heru) when talking about a decrease in quantity or number (e.g., population, items). Use 下がる for levels, prices, temperature, or abstract concepts like reputation.
It's an idiom meaning humble, modest, or deferential. It literally translates to 'waist is low'.
It's pronounced sa-ga-ru, with clear syllables. Sa (like 'sah'), Ga (like 'gah'), Ru (like 'roo').
Yes, it's a very common and useful verb in Japanese, used in many everyday situations.
The main antonyms are 上がる (agaru - to go up) and 増える (fueru - to increase in quantity).
Test Yourself
明日は気温が ____ でしょう。
The sentence talks about temperature, and 'tomorrow will likely ______'. The most appropriate word for temperature going down is 下がる (sagaru).
Which sentence correctly uses 下がる to mean 'prices are falling'?
値段が下がる (nedan ga sagaru) is the standard phrase for prices decreasing or falling.
The verb 下がる can be used to describe a decrease in a person's reputation.
Yes, 評価が下がる (hyōka ga sagaru) means reputation or evaluation goes down.
Word
Meaning
These pairs match common collocations of 下がる with their meanings.
The correct sentence is '仕事の評判が下がった (Shigoto no hyōban ga sagatta)', meaning 'My work reputation dropped'.
エレベーターが ____。
An elevator moves up and down. '下がる' means to go down.
Which verb should be used for 'the economy is declining'?
経済が下がる (keizai ga sagaru) or 経済が低迷する (keizai ga teimei suru - stagnate) are common. 下落する is more for prices.
The phrase '腰が低い' (koshi ga hikui) means someone is physically weak.
腰が低い means humble or modest, not physically weak.
長引く不況で、人々の購買意欲も ____。
Purchasing desire decreases during a recession, so 下がる (sagaru) is appropriate.
The sentence is '彼の発言は、長年培ってきた信頼を下げかねない (Kare no hatsugen wa, naganen tsukatte kita shinrai o sagekanenai)', meaning 'His remarks could damage the trust built over many years'.
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Summary
Mastering 下がる (sagaru) allows you to describe a wide range of downward movements and decreases, from physical changes to abstract concepts.
- 下がる (sagaru) means 'to go down', 'fall', or 'decrease'.
- Used for temperature, prices, levels, reputation, mood, and physical descent.
- It's an intransitive verb (something goes down by itself).
- Common collocations include 気温が下がる, 値段が下がる, and 気分が下がる.
Elevator Down!
Picture an elevator (sagaru) going DOWN. The 'sa' sound can remind you of 'sad', and when you're sad, your mood goes down.
Intransitive vs. Transitive
Remember: 下がる (sagaru) is intransitive (something goes down by itself). Use 下げる (sageru) when *you* lower something.
Humility in Japanese
The idiom 腰が低い (koshi ga hikui - humble) shows how 'lowering' oneself is valued in Japanese culture for showing respect.
The Magic Particle が
Most often, you'll see 下がる used with the particle が (ga) marking the subject: 気温が下がる (kion ga sagaru - temperature drops).
Example
気温が急に下がった。
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More general words
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
ごろ
A2About, approximately (time).
うえ
A2At a higher position than.
絶対
B1Absolutely; definitely; never.
絶対に
B1Absolutely; definitely.
