1.
downward trend; declining; going downhill
A continuous downward movement in numbers, quality, or performance, visualized as a line on a graph sloping down from left to right. Used for economic indicators, sales, population, and other measurable trends.
売上が右肩下がりだ。
Sales are on a downward trend.
この業界の市場規模は右肩下がりが続いている。
The market size of this industry continues to decline.
人口が右肩下がりの地域では、学校の統廃合が進んでいる。
In regions with declining populations, school consolidations are progressing.
USAGE:
The image comes from reading a graph left to right: if the line slopes downward, the right shoulder (右肩) of the line is lower. This is a very common expression in business and economic reporting.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 右肩下がりが続く (the decline continues)
- 右肩下がりの傾向 (downward trend)
- 右肩下がりのグラフ (declining graph)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 右肩上がり: upward trend, rising (antonym)
- 低下: decline, decrease
- 減少: decrease, reduction