Entry
どっかり
dokkari
Describes the action of sitting down heavily or placing a heavy object down solidly.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word portrays the heavy, solid settling of an object or person, such as slumping into a chair or dropping a weighty item. It emphasizes a sense of mass, suggesting that the object or person is now fixed in place and not intending to move immediately.
- Plunking down one's heavy body
- Setting down a massive object
Sense Map
Sitting heavily
To sit down with one's full weight, often out of exhaustion or to relax completely.
ソファにどっかりと座る。
Placing a heavy object
To place something massive down with a sense of finality.
荷物をどっかり置く。
Usage Note
How to Use
どっかり（と）座る
どっかり（と）腰を下ろす
To settle one's hips down heavily or solidly.
どっかりと置く
To plunk down a heavy object with a thud.
How to Use
Common Phrases
どっかり座る
sit down heavily
どっかり腰を下ろす
settle down solidly
どっかり置く
place down heavily
どっかりと腰を据える
settle in for a long stay
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sitting down after a long day | neutral | Commonly used to express physical exhaustion and dropping one's weight completely into a chair. |
| Visiting someone's house | negative | If you describe a guest doing this, it implies they are acting overly comfortable, lacking manners, or planning to stay a long time. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どっしり どっしり / similar | When describing something that is inherently massive, solid, and stable in its existence or appearance. | どっしり describes a steady, heavy state (like a sturdy building), while どっかり focuses on the single action of dropping that heavy weight down. | どっしりとした構え。 |
ごろんと ごろんと / similar | When a large heavy object rolls, or when a person casually flops down to lie on the floor. | ごろんと implies rolling or lying down flat, whereas どっかり specifically implies plopping a heavy mass straight down, usually upright like sitting. | 床にごろんと横になる。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for placing small items like a phone or keys.
Only use it for substantial, heavy objects or a person's full body weight.
Using it for a bouncy or light movement.
It describes a single, heavy, settling movement with no bounce.
Examples
Examples
疲れて、ソファにどっかりと座り込んだ。
つかれて、ソファにどっかりとすわりこんだ。
Exhausted, I plunked myself down heavily onto the sofa.
LiteralUsed for a person sitting down with their full weight out of fatigue.
彼は椅子にどっかり腰を下ろして、ため息をついた。
かれはいすにどっかりこしをおろして、ためいきをついた。
He settled heavily into the chair and let out a sigh.
LiteralCombining with 腰を下ろす (to sit down/settle down) is a very common pattern.
大きな段ボールを床にどっかりと置いた。
おおきなだんぼーるをゆかにどっかりとおいた。
I plunked the large cardboard box down heavily on the floor.
VisualDescribes the heavy, solid feeling of dropping a large object.
その男はあぐらをかいてどっかりと構えていた。
そのおとこはあぐらをかいてどっかりとかまえていた。
The man sat cross-legged, positioning himself solidly and unmovingly.
FigurativeFiguratively settling down firmly and showing composure or unyielding presence.
部屋の真ん中に大きな荷物がどっかり置かれている。
へやのまんなかにおおきなにもつがどっかりおかれている。
A large piece of luggage has been plunked down right in the middle of the room.
VisualShows that a heavy object is sitting there immovably.
Similar Words
どかっと
dokatto
Describes the action of sitting down heavily or dropping a large object with a thud.
どっしり
dosshiri
どっしり describes something that is massive, heavy, and solid, or someone's calm, composed, and dignified presence. Used for things that are inherently heavy, massive, and stable.
ごろんと
goronto
Describes a heavy object tumbling over once or a person effortlessly flopping down to rest. Relates to lying down or rolling of a large heavy object.
Questions
Can I use this word to describe a fat person?
You can use it to describe how someone sits down heavily, but it is not an adjective for body shape (which would be deppuri).
Is this formal?
It is casual and descriptive, commonly used in everyday speech and creative writing.
What is the difference between this and dokatto?
They are very similar. Dokatto can sometimes feel more sudden and forceful, while dokkari emphasizes the settling down of the mass into a still state.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2078720
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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