下(くだ)り坂(ざか)

くだりざか
noun
downhill slope; decline
geography
1. downhill slope; downward incline
A road or path that descends. The physical sense of a slope going downward.
帰(かえ)りは下(くだ)り坂(ざか)だから楽(らく)だ。
The way back is downhill, so it's easy.
下(くだ)り坂(ざか)ではブレーキをしっかり使(つか)ってください。
Please use the brakes firmly on downhill slopes.
雨(あめ)の日(ひ)は下(くだ)り坂(ざか)で滑(すべ)りやすいので気(き)をつけたほうがいい。
On rainy days, downhill slopes are slippery, so you should be careful.
2. decline; downturn; going downhill
Figuratively, a phase of deterioration, weakening, or worsening in health, career, economy, or other areas.
体力(たいりょく)が下(くだ)り坂(ざか)だ。
My stamina is declining.
あの会社(かいしゃ)の業績(ぎょうせき)は下(くだ)り坂(ざか)をたどっている。
That company's performance is on a downward trajectory.
天気(てんき)は午後(ごご)から下(くだ)り坂(ざか)になるらしい。
The weather is apparently going to take a turn for the worse from the afternoon.

Usage

In the literal sense, 下(くだ)り坂(ざか) refers to a physical downhill slope. Figuratively, it means a phase of decline. The weather expression 天気(てんき)が下(くだ)り坂(ざか) is very common in weather forecasts.

Common collocations

Similar words

上(のぼ)り坂(ざか) is the antonym, meaning uphill slope or improvement.

Related Words

Antonym: 上(のぼ)り坂(ざか) (uphill, improvement)
Related: 坂道(さかみち) (slope)
Compare: 落(お)ち目(め) (decline, on the wane)
Compare: 急坂(きゅうざか) (steep slope)
general
Added 2026.3.12 14:11 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31
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