落とす
otosu[o̞to̞sɨ]
The Japanese word for 'to drop' is 落とす (otosu).
落とす is used to describe the action of letting something fall or allowing something to fall, whether by releasing one's hold or losing a grip on an object.
Meaning: to let (something) fall, to allow (something) to fall (either by releasing hold of, or losing one's grip on) (verb)
Which one should you use?
落とす is a transitive verb used when a person or subject performs the action of dropping an object. In contrast, the intransitive form 落ちる is used to describe when an object falls or is dropped on its own without a specific agent performing the action.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
落とす is the transitive form of the verb, meaning the subject is the one performing the action of dropping an object.
How do you pronounce it?
otosu
Did you know?
- You might use 落とす to describe 'dropping' a person in a different way, such as 'winning over' or 'seducing' someone in certain slang contexts.
- In a digital context, 落とす is common slang for downloading a file from the internet to a computer.
- The word 落とす is used to describe the act of erasing or removing a stain from clothing.
Example sentences for Japanese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drop” translations and entries 落とす, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
