1.
to sink to; to stoop to; to degrade oneself to
to fall to a lower status, role, or condition that is considered shameful
詐欺師に成り下がった。
He sank to becoming a con artist.
犯罪者に成り下がるとは思わなかった。
I never thought he would stoop to becoming a criminal.
かつての英雄が乞食に成り下がった。
The former hero was reduced to begging.
TRANSITIVITY:
Intransitive (自動詞)
USAGE:
- 〜に成り下がる (to sink to becoming ~)
NUANCE:
Strongly negative connotation. Implies a shameful fall from a better state. The destination is always something considered degrading or dishonorable.
CONTRAST:
- 成り上がる (to rise in status - opposite direction, but also often negative as "parvenu")
- 落ちぶれる (to come down in the world - similar but less focused on moral degradation)