Overview
The Japanese verb '転ぶ' (ころぶ - korobu) is a versatile and common verb that primarily means 'to fall over' or 'to tumble.' It's often used to describe an unintentional loss of balance, resulting in contact with the ground or another surface. Understanding its nuances and common usages can significantly enhance one's comprehension of everyday Japanese.
Core Meaning and Usage:
The most fundamental meaning of '転ぶ' is literally to lose one's footing and fall. This can apply to people, animals, or even inanimate objects that topple over. For instance:
- 子供が公園で転んだ。(Kodomo ga kōen de koronda.) - The child fell over in the park.
- 自転車が風で転んだ。(Jitensha ga kaze de koronda.) - The bicycle fell over in the wind.
Figurative Meanings and Extensions:
Beyond its literal sense, '転ぶ' also carries figurative meanings that extend to situations of misfortune, failure, or a change in circumstances. These uses are particularly interesting:
- 1To Fail or Suffer a Setback: In a more metaphorical sense, '転ぶ' can describe experiencing a failure or a setback in one's life, work, or plans. It implies an unexpected and often negative turn of events.
- 事業に転ぶ。(Jigyō ni korobu.) - To fail in business.
- 試験に転んでしまった。(Shiken ni koronde shimatta.) - I failed the exam.
- 1To Change One's Stance or Allegiance: This usage implies a shift in opinion, loyalty, or political alignment. It often suggests a pragmatic or opportunistic change, sometimes with a negative connotation.
- 彼はすぐに意見を転ぶ。(Kare wa sugu ni iken o korobu.) - He quickly changes his opinion.
- 敵側に転ぶ。(Teki-gawa ni korobu.) - To switch to the enemy's side.
- 1To Take an Unexpected Turn (of events): When discussing situations or events, '転ぶ' can indicate that things have gone in an unforeseen or undesirable direction.
- 話が思わぬ方向に転んだ。(Hanashi ga omowanu hōkō ni koronda.) - The conversation took an unexpected turn.
Grammatical Considerations:
- '転ぶ' is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object. The person or thing that falls is the subject of the sentence.
- It conjugates like a regular godan verb (五段活用動詞 - godan katsuyō dōshi).
- Past tense: 転んだ (koronda)
- Te-form: 転んで (koronde)
- Negative: 転ばない (korobanai)
Related Expressions and Nuances:
- 転びそうになる (korobi sō ni naru): To be about to fall, to almost fall.
- 危うく転びそうになった。(Ayauku korobi sō ni natta.) - I almost fell.
- 転ばぬ先の杖 (korobanu saki no tsue): Literally 'a cane before falling,' this is a proverb meaning 'prevention is better than cure' or 'look before you leap.'
- つまずく (tsumazuku): To stumble or trip. While similar, 'つまずく' often implies hitting one's foot on something but not necessarily falling completely, whereas '転ぶ' indicates a full fall.
In summary, '転ぶ' is a fundamental Japanese verb with both literal and rich metaphorical applications. Its ability to describe physical falls, personal setbacks, and shifts in allegiance makes it a powerful and expressive word in the Japanese language.
例句
道で転んで膝を擦りむいた。
Everyday situation, describing an accidentI fell on the road and scraped my knee.
彼は酔っ払って何度も転んだ。
Describing someone repeatedly losing balance due to intoxicationHe got drunk and fell over many times.
人生には転ぶことも必要だ。
Metaphorical usage, referring to making mistakes or facing setbacksIt's also necessary to stumble in life.
子供が自転車から転んで泣いていた。
Describing a child's accidentThe child fell off the bicycle and was crying.
経済が転ぶ
Figurative usage, describing a negative economic trendThe economy collapses/falls into decline.
常见搭配
容易混淆的词
语法模式
如何使用
使用说明
'転ぶ' (korobu) is a common intransitive verb used to describe the action of falling over or tumbling. It can be applied to people, animals, or even inanimate objects that lose their balance and fall. For example, '彼は道で転んだ' (Kare wa michi de koronda) means 'He fell down on the street.' It's often used in everyday conversation and can cover a range of fall severities, from a slight stumble to a complete knockdown. While '倒れる' (taoreru) also means to fall, '転ぶ' specifically implies a loss of balance leading to a fall, often with a sense of rolling or tumbling. '倒れる' can also be used for something collapsing or falling due to weakness or external force without necessarily implying a stumble. When talking about someone intentionally falling, such as in sports, other verbs like 'ダイブする' (daibu suru - to dive) might be used instead. The past tense '転んだ' is very frequently encountered.
常见错误
A common mistake is confusing '転ぶ' (korobu) with '倒れる' (taoreru). While both mean 'to fall,' '転ぶ' specifically implies falling over due to losing one's balance, often in a somewhat clumsy or accidental manner. '倒れる' is a broader term that can mean to fall down due to various reasons, including collapsing (e.g., a building falling, a person fainting).
小贴士
Meaning and Usage
Common Mistakes and Nuances
Example Sentences
词源
The word '転ぶ' (korobu) has a long history in the Japanese language, with its roots tracing back over a thousand years. It is believed to be derived from the Old Japanese verb 'koro' (転), which itself meant 'to roll' or 'to turn over.' The suffix '-bu' is a common verbal suffix in Japanese that indicates an action or state. Over time, 'koro' evolved into 'korobu' to specifically describe the act of losing one's balance and falling. This evolution is seen in various ancient texts and dictionaries, where the nuance of 'falling' became distinct from merely 'rolling.' There are also theories suggesting a connection to Proto-Ryukyuan languages, indicating a shared linguistic heritage in the region. The concept of falling is universal, and many languages have developed distinct terms for it. In Japanese, 'korobu' emphasizes an unintended and often sudden loss of upright posture. Furthermore, the word has been used metaphorically in literature and everyday expressions to describe failure, setbacks, or experiencing a downturn in circumstances. For example, '転んでもただでは起きない' (koronde mo tada de wa okinai) means 'even if you fall, you don't get up empty-handed,' implying resilience and learning from mistakes. In modern Japanese, 'korobu' remains a fundamental verb, used in various contexts from literal physical falls to more figurative interpretations of stumbling or encountering difficulties. Its enduring presence and rich etymological background highlight its significance in the Japanese lexicon.
文化背景
In Japan, the act of '転ぶ' (korobu) or falling over often carries a degree of humor or lightheartedness, especially when it's not a serious injury. You might hear someone exclaim 'あちゃー!' (achaa!) or 'あらら!' (arara!) if they or someone else takes a tumble, which are mild expressions of surprise or concern, often with a hint of amusement. Children falling is a common sight and is usually met with comforting words and help to get back up. However, in more formal or public settings, falling can be a source of embarrassment, leading to quick apologies even if no one was inconvenienced. There's also a cultural tendency to be mindful of one's surroundings to avoid such incidents, reflecting a general emphasis on grace and carefulness in public demeanor. When someone falls due to external factors like uneven ground, it can sometimes spark a discussion about responsibility for public safety.
记忆技巧
The character '転' (ten) means 'revolve, turn, change,' and 'ぶ' (bu) comes from 'ぶらぶら' (burabura), meaning 'dangling' or 'loitering.' So, imagine yourself revolving and then dangling, causing you to fall over.
常见问题
4 个问题自我测试
彼女は道で___しまった。
子供が公園で___、膝を擦りむいた。
彼はスキー中に何度も___。
得分: /3
Meaning and Usage
Common Mistakes and Nuances
Example Sentences
例句
5 / 5道で転んで膝を擦りむいた。
I fell on the road and scraped my knee.
彼は酔っ払って何度も転んだ。
He got drunk and fell over many times.
人生には転ぶことも必要だ。
It's also necessary to stumble in life.
子供が自転車から転んで泣いていた。
The child fell off the bicycle and was crying.
経済が転ぶ
The economy collapses/falls into decline.
相关内容
这个词在其他语言中
更多健康词汇
しばらく
B1For a while, for some time.
異変がある
B1To have an unusual change or abnormality.
異常な
B1Abnormal; unusual; irregular.
擦り傷
B1Scratch, graze, abrasion.
吸収する
B1To absorb.
禁酒
B1Abstinence from alcohol; the act of refraining from alcohol.
痛む
A2to hurt; to ache
鍼灸
B1Acupuncture and moxibustion; traditional Chinese medicine treatments.
急性的
B1Acute.
急性な
B1Acute