奈 落(ならく)

ならく

noun

abyss, the depths; hell

1. abyss, the depths, bottomless pit

A deep, dark place or the lowest possible state. Used figuratively for situations of extreme despair, ruin, or downfall.

奈落(ならく)の底(そこ)に突(つ)き落(お)とされた気分(きぶん)だ。

I feel like I've been thrown into the depths of an abyss.

不祥事(ふしょうじ)により、会社(かいしゃ)は奈落(ならく)の底(そこ)へと転落(てんらく)した。

Due to the scandal, the company fell into ruin.

人生(じんせい)の絶頂(ぜっちょう)から奈落(ならく)の底(そこ)まで落(お)ちた経験(けいけん)が、彼(かれ)を強(つよ)くした。

The experience of falling from the peak of life to the very bottom made him stronger.

2. below the stage, trap cellar (theater)

In traditional Japanese theater (kabuki), the space beneath the stage used for special effects, disappearances, and scene changes.

役者(やくしゃ)が奈落(ならく)から舞台(ぶたい)に上(あ)がってきた。

The actor came up onto the stage from the trap cellar.

歌舞伎(かぶき)座(ざ)の奈落(ならく)は見学(けんがく)できることがある。

The trap cellar of the Kabuki-za can sometimes be visited on tours.

舞台(ぶたい)の仕掛(しか)けを動(うご)かすために、奈落(ならく)では裏方(うらかた)のスタッフが忙(いそが)しく働(はたら)いている。

Backstage staff work busily in the trap cellar to operate the stage mechanisms.

奈落(ならく) originally comes from the Sanskrit word "naraka" meaning hell, borrowed into Japanese through Buddhist texts.

SENSE 1 — ABYSS:
Almost always used in the expression 奈落(ならく)の底(そこ) (the bottom of the abyss). Describes extreme despair, ruin, or a disastrous fall from grace.

SENSE 2 — THEATER:
In kabuki and other traditional theater, the space beneath the stage. Actors and set pieces can be raised or lowered through trapdoors.

Etymology

From Sanskrit "naraka" (hell) via Buddhist terminology. The kanji are ateji (phonetic characters chosen for their readings, not meanings).

general

Added 2026.2.20 19:26 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

12000/12194_naraku