1.
to descend, to go down
To move from a higher to a lower position; to go downhill or downstairs.
坂を下って駅に向かった。
I went down the hill toward the station.
山道を下るときは足元に気をつけて。
Watch your step when going down the mountain trail.
峠を越えてからはずっと下り坂だった。
After crossing the mountain pass, it was all downhill.
2.
to go downstream, to go down (a river)
To travel in the direction of a river's flow toward the sea.
川を下ってボートで海まで行った。
We went down the river by boat to the sea.
筏で急流を下る。
Go down the rapids on a raft.
船で川を下って海まで出た。
We went down the river by boat and reached the sea.
3.
to be issued, to be handed down
For a decision, order, or judgment to be given from a higher authority.
裁判所から判決が下った。
A verdict was handed down from the court.
上から許可が下った。
Permission was granted from above.
有罪の判決が下り、被告は項垂れた。
A guilty verdict was handed down, and the defendant hung his head.
下る is an intransitive verb meaning to descend or go down.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: Intransitive (自動詞)
- Pair: 下す (transitive - to hand down, to give [a decision])
- Pattern: Xが下る
ASPECT:
- 下っている: In the process of descending or having descended
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 坂を下る (to go down a hill)
- 川を下る (to go down a river)
- 判決が下る (a verdict is handed down)
- 命令が下る (an order is issued)
SIMILAR VERBS:
- 降りる: to get off, to descend (from vehicles, stairs)
- 下がる: to go down, to lower
Related Words
Pair verb:
下す (transitive)