転んだ
koronda
The phrase "I fell down" in Japanese is 転んだ (koronda).
This phrase is used when someone accidentally loses their balance and lands on the ground.
What does it mean word for word?
転んだ is the casual past tense of the intransitive verb 転ぶ, which means to tumble or fall over.
Which one should you use?
Use 転んだ for losing balance and hitting the ground, whereas 躓いた specifically means 'tripped'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form of the verb is 転ぶ, while 転んだ is the past tense form.
How do you pronounce it?
koronda
Did you know?
- The verb 転ぶ shares a root with 転生, the word for 'reincarnation' used in popular anime and manga. It suggests the soul 'tumbling' or 'rolling' over from one life into another.
- In Japanese children's culture, a common sympathetic phrase used when a child falls is 痛いの痛いの飛んでいけ, which asks the pain to 'fly away'.
- While 転んだ describes the fall, Japanese speakers may use the phrase おっとっと as a reflexive exclamation when they start to lose their balance but manage not to fall.
Examples in context
- 私は氷の上で転んだ。I fell down on the ice.This sentence is useful for describing a fall occurring on a specific surface using 転んだ.Tatoeba #153094 by small_snow, translation #261450 by CK
- すみませんが、私は転んでしまいました。Excuse me, but I fell down.
- ちょっと、転んじゃった。Oops, I fell down.
- あ、バッグを持っていたら転んじゃった。Oops, I fell down because I was carrying a bag.
- 道で転んだ。michi de koronda.I fell down on the street.
- 階段で転んだ。kaidan de koronda.I fell down on the stairs.
Example conversation
Kenta is showing Yui a scrape on his knee.
- 健太 Kenta実はさっき、転んだんだ。Jitsu wa sakki, korondanda.Actually, I fell down a moment ago.
- 結衣 Yuiえっ、大丈夫？E, daijōbu?What, are you okay?
- 健太 Kentaうん、ちょっと擦りむけただけだよ。Un, chotto surimuketa dake dayo.Yeah, it's just a little scrape.
- 結衣 Yui気を付けてね、健太。Ki o tsukete ne, Kenta.Be careful, Kenta.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
