Word
転ぶ
Meaning in Englishfall down, tumble
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
転ぶ means to lose balance and end up on the ground, typically due to slipping or tripping; it describes a physical topple from an upright position.
Main meanings
- Physical fall: to lose balance and end up on the ground
- Stumble or trip while walking or running
- Figurative: to take a turn or change direction in a plan or story
How to use it
Used in casual and everyday speech to describe an accidental loss of balance that ends with the person or animal on the ground; in formal contexts, use 転びます; common in scenarios involving slipping on wet or uneven surfaces or tripping over obstacles; subject typically marked with が or は in simple sentences.
Variants and close terms
- 転倒する (てんとうする, tentou suru) fall down, collapse
- つまずく (つまずく, tsumazuku) to stumble
- ひっくり返る (ひっくりかえる, hikkurikaeru) to flip over
- ころぶ (ころぶ, korobu) kana form, same meaning
Composition
- 転: turn, rotate; ぶ: okurigana indicating the verb ending
Word class
Verb (五段動詞, godan)