倒れる
taoreruto fall down or collapse, often due to illness, exhaustion, or an accident
地震で家が倒れた。
The house collapsed in the earthquake.
彼は過労で倒れた。
He collapsed from overwork.
Can also imply a sudden collapse of a structure or system.
to die or pass away (in a more formal or literary context)
祖父は静かに倒れた。
My grandfather passed away peacefully.
Often used in more formal or literary contexts to describe death.
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💡Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning of '倒れる' can vary significantly depending on the context. Pay attention to whether it's referring to a physical fall, a collapse of a structure, or a metaphorical failure.
⚡Gold Rule
Literal vs. Figurative
In formal or literary contexts, '倒れる' can mean 'to die,' but in everyday speech, it usually means 'to fall down' or 'to collapse.'
📖Word Origin
From the verb '倒す' (taosu) meaning 'to knock down' or 'to overthrow,' with the intransitive suffix '-れる' indicating a passive or spontaneous action.
📝Usage Notes
Can be used both literally (falling down) and metaphorically (collapsing, failing). In business contexts, it can refer to a company going bankrupt or a project failing.