腰(こし)を下(お)ろす

こしをおろす
expression
to sit down; to take a seat
movement
1. to sit down; to take a seat; to settle down
To lower oneself into a sitting position. More literary or deliberate than 座(すわ)る, often implying carefully or comfortably settling into a seat.
I sat down on a bench.
Please, have a seat over there.
I was tired, so I sat down in the shade of a tree and took a break.

Usage

The verb 下(お)ろす conjugates normally as a godan verb. This expression is more descriptive and slightly more formal or literary than simply 座(すわ)る (to sit). It draws attention to the physical action of lowering oneself.

Common patterns

  • ~に腰(こし)を下(お)ろす (to sit down on/at ~)

Similar words

  • 座(すわ)る is the everyday word for sitting down
  • 腰(こし)を下(お)ろす emphasizes the deliberate act of settling into a seat, often used in narrative writing
  • 腰(こし)を掛(か)ける is a similar expression, slightly more formal