Meaning and Usage
The verb 下る (さがる) primarily means "to go down" or "to descend." It is commonly used to describe physical movement downward, such as going down a mountain or stairs. It also frequently describes a decrease in quantity or level, like temperature, prices, or evaluations.
Common Contexts
- Physical descent: 山を下る (go down a mountain)
- Decrease in measurement: 気温が下がる (temperature drops)
- Decline in status or evaluation: 評価が下がる (evaluation falls)
Collocations and Patterns
- 下がる + noun (e.g., 気温が下がる): to indicate something decreases
- 山を下る: to physically descend a mountain
- 評価が下がる: to express a decline in reputation or rating
Register and Nuance
下がる is a neutral verb used in both casual and formal contexts. It is often contrasted with 上がる (あがる), meaning "to go up" or "to rise." Learners should note that 下がる is intransitive; the related transitive verb is 下げる (さげる), meaning "to lower something."
Common Mistake
Confusing 下がる (intransitive) with 下げる (transitive). For example, 気温が下がる means "the temperature drops" (it happens by itself), while 気温を下げる means "to lower the temperature" (someone causes it).