Meaning

Primary

To Fall Over

Alternative

To Fall Down

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

Do you remember the word 転がる? This is kind of similar, instead of rolling, this is more for when something falls and hits the ground. It means to fall over or to fall down. Just imagine someone falling off a chair face first into the dirt and making a sound.

Reading

ころぶ
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading comes from 転がる. Hopefully you know that one well enough to associate it with this one, meaning you can read them both.

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 道で転ぶ

    to fall down on the street

    歩道で転ぶ

    to fall down on the sidewalk

    山道で転ぶ

    to fall down on a mountain trail

Context Sentences

サヨナラホームランを打った後であのせん手が転んだのはおも白かったね。

It was funny that the player fell over after hitting a game-ending home run.

今日のコウイチは、久しぶりに転んでもなかなかった。

Today, Koichi didn't cry even though he fell down for the first time in a long time.

コウイチはもう少しで地面に転ぶところだったが、スーパーマンのコスプレをしたビエトに助けられた。

Koichi had almost fallen to the ground but he was saved by Viet, who was wearing a Superman costume.

Kanji Composition