Entry
ばったり
battari
Describes unexpectedly bumping into someone, falling down heavily, or an ongoing action coming to an abrupt halt.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word conveys a strong sense of suddenness and impact. It is most commonly used for chance encounters with acquaintances, collapsing heavily due to exhaustion, or a sudden and complete end to communications or activities.
- Running into someone by chance
- Collapsing heavily
- Communications or actions stopping abruptly
Sense Map
Unexpected Encounter
Meeting someone by chance without prior arrangement.
街でばったり会う
Heavy Fall
Falling down heavily and suddenly.
ベッドにばったり倒れる
Abrupt Stop
An ongoing action or communication abruptly stopping.
連絡がばったり途絶える
Usage Note
How to Use
ばったり + verb
Directly modifies verbs (like meet, fall, stop) to indicate suddenness.
ばったりと + verb
Adding the particle 'to' gives a slightly more descriptive and literary tone when narrating a sudden stop or fall.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ばったり会う
meet unexpectedly
ばったり倒れる
collapse/fall heavily
ばったり途絶える
cease completely
ばったり止まる
stop abruptly
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting someone | neutral | Conveys a sense of surprise from an unplanned, coincidental face-to-face encounter. |
| Physical movement | negative | Describes falling heavily, often due to exhaustion or a sudden loss of strength. |
| Action or communication | negative | Describes an ongoing activity or contact stopping abruptly and completely. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぱったり ぱったり / similar | Use for things completely stopping (like wind, communication, or customers). | Does not convey the heavy physical collision or falling impact of 'battari'. | 客足がぱったりと止まった。 |
ひょっこり ひょっこり / similar | Use when someone or something pops up or appears unexpectedly but casually. | Focuses on the surprising appearance, lacking the feeling of colliding or bumping into someone. | 彼がひょっこり顔を出した。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using battari for a scheduled meeting or appointment.
It is exclusively used for accidental, chance encounters.
Using battari for something fading away gradually.
It implies a sudden, complete stop, not a gradual decline.
Examples
Examples
偶然、駅で昔の友達にばったり会いました。
ぐうぜん、えきでむかしのともだちにばったりあいました。
I unexpectedly bumped into an old friend at the station.
FigurativeUsed when bumping into an acquaintance completely by chance.
彼は疲れ果てて、ベッドにばったり倒れた。
かれはつかれはてて、べっどにばったりたおれた。
Exhausted, he collapsed heavily onto the bed.
LiteralDescribes a body falling down heavily due to extreme exhaustion.
毎日のように来ていたメールが、ばったり来なくなった。
まいにちのようにきていためーるが、ばったりこなくなった。
The emails that used to come almost every day suddenly stopped completely.
FigurativeEmphasizes that communication stopped completely without warning.
曲がり角で、急いでいた人とばったりぶつかった。
まがりかどで、いそいでいたひととばったりぶつかった。
I unexpectedly collided with someone in a hurry at the corner.
LiteralIndicates a sudden, unexpected physical collision.
にぎやかだった通りから、人通りがばったりと途絶えた。
にぎやかだったとおりから、ひとどおりがばったりととだえた。
The flow of people on the once-bustling street abruptly ceased.
FigurativeShows a sudden and complete stop in activity or flow.
Similar Words
ぱったり
pattari
Means something stops, but lacks the physical impact of 'battari'.
Questions
Can I use battari if I just see someone from a distance?
Not usually. Battari implies a direct, face-to-face encounter or physically bumping into each other.
How is battari different from pattari?
Both can mean a sudden stop, but battari carries a heavier nuance of impact or a heavy object falling, while pattari is lighter.
Is battari always negative?
No. Bumping into an old friend unexpectedly (battari au) can be a pleasant surprise. However, falling down or communication ceasing usually has a negative tone.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1632430
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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