Meaning and Usage
The verb 倒す (たおす) primarily means "to knock down" or "to defeat." It is commonly used when talking about physically knocking something or someone over, such as a tree or an opponent in a match. It can also be used figuratively to mean "to beat" or "to overcome" someone in competition.
Common Contexts
- Physical action: knocking down objects or people (e.g., 木を倒す - to cut down or knock down a tree).
- Sports or competition: defeating an opponent (e.g., 相手を倒す).
- Collapsing or falling down due to tiredness or illness (e.g., 椅子に倒れる, often with 倒す in causative or related forms).
Collocations and Patterns
- 相手を倒す: to defeat an opponent, often used in sports or fights.
- 木を倒す: to cut down or knock down a tree.
- 倒れそうになる: to feel like collapsing.
Register and Nuance
倒す is a neutral verb used in both casual and formal contexts. It is often used in everyday conversation and written language. When referring to people, it can imply a physical or metaphorical defeat.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 倒す (to knock down) with 倒れる (たおれる), which means "to fall down" or "to collapse" by itself. 倒す is transitive (requires an object), while 倒れる is intransitive (no object). For example:
- 木を倒す (to knock down a tree)
- 木が倒れる (the tree falls down)
Understanding this transitive/intransitive pair is important to use these verbs correctly.