()がる

さがる
verb (godan)
to go down, to drop
1. to go down, to descend
To move to a lower position or level. The intransitive form—something goes down by itself.
It gets cool when the sun goes down.
カーテン()がっている。
The curtain is hanging down.
水位(すいい)()がってきた。
The water level has been going down.
They have a face with drooping eyebrows.
(みち)(すこ)ずつ()がっている。
The road gradually goes downhill.
2. to drop, to fall, to decrease
For a value, temperature, or level to decrease.
気温(きおん)()がった。
The temperature dropped.
Wait for the price to go down.
(ねつ)()がらない。
The fever won't go down.
成績(せいせき)()がってしまった。
My grades dropped.
Please take medicine until your blood pressure goes down.
Stock prices dropped significantly.
3. to step back, to move back
To move backward or retreat from a position.
(すこ)()がってください
Please step back a little.
'Move back' meaning
電車(でんしゃ)()ますので、白線(はくせん)まで()がってください
The train is coming, so please step back to the white line.
It's dangerous, so step back.
一歩(いっぽ)()がって(かんが)えてみよう。
Let's step back and think about it.
I'm taking a photo, so please move back a bit more.

TRANSITIVITY: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive). Pair: ()げる (transitive, to lower). Pattern: Xが()がる (X goes down).

ASPECT: ている indicates resulting state. ()がっている = 'has gone down' or 'is low.'

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 気温(きおん)()がる (temperature drops)
  • 値段(ねだん)()がる (price drops)
  • (ねつ)()がる (fever goes down)
  • (うし)ろに()がる (step back)
  • 成績(せいせき)()がる (grades drop)

CONTRAST:

  • ()がる (intransitive): X goes down
  • ()げる (transitive): (someone) lowers X

OPPOSITE: ()がる (to go up, to rise)