Entry
どさどさ
dosadosa
The sound or action of many heavy objects falling, being thrown down, or arriving in rapid succession.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Describes the rough, heavy sound of multiple bulky items falling or being dumped one after another. It is often used for books, stacks of documents, luggage, or even heavy snow falling in large quantities all at once.
- Heavy things falling in succession
- Falling in massive amounts
Sense Map
Heavy objects falling
The sound or action of heavy, bulky objects like books, documents, or luggage being dropped or dumped carelessly in succession.
荷物をどさどさと置く。
Falling in large amounts
Something like heavy snow or items from above falling or collapsing in a very large quantity all at once.
雪がどさどさ降る。
Usage Note
How to Use
どさどさと + verb
Describes actions like dropping heavy objects in rapid succession, accompanied by the particle と.
どさどさ + verb
Used directly without the particle と, often for massive, rapid natural phenomena like falling snow.
How to Use
Common Phrases
どさどさと落ちる
falling down in numbers and thuds
どさどさと置く
dumping down heavily in succession
どさどさ降る
falling heavily and accumulating (snow)
どさどさ入る
coming pouring in (orders, applications)
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Putting down belongings | neutral | Often sounds a bit rough or careless when putting down bags or luggage. |
| Natural phenomena | neutral | Used for natural phenomena like snow, emphasizing a heavy mass accumulating all at once in large amounts. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どしどし どしどし / similar | Use when things are done or come continuously without hesitation (like questions or applications). | Does not focus on the physical heavy dropping of objects; applies to continuous active actions. | どしどし応募してください。 |
ぞろぞろ ぞろぞろ / similar | Use when a large number of living things (like people or insects) move continuously together. | Only applies to living entities moving, not to inanimate objects being dropped. | 人がぞろぞろと出てくる。 |
どかっと どかっと / contrast | Use for a single heavy object being put down or falling at once with a heavy thud. | Indicates a single heavy action, unlike the successive, plural nature of どさどさ. | どかっと座る。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using どさどさ when dropping a single thick book.
どさどさ requires multiple objects falling. For a single heavy object, use どかっと or どすんと.
Using どさどさ for a crowd of people arriving.
Use ぞろぞろ for groups of living things moving together. どさどさ is generally for inanimate objects or massive orders.
Examples
Examples
荷物をどさどさと床に置いた。
にもつをどさどさとゆかにおいた。
They dumped the luggage heavily onto the floor in a heap.
LiteralShows the action of putting down multiple heavy items in quick succession and somewhat carelessly.
棚から本がどさどさと落ちてきた。
たなからほんがどさどさとおちてきた。
Books came thudding down from the shelf one after another.
VisualVisualizes the sight of multiple books falling with a heavy, thudding sound.
昨夜から雪がどさどさ降っている。
さくやからゆきがどさどさふっている。
Heavy snow has been falling in thick masses since last night.
VisualVisually highlights massive, heavy amounts of snow falling continuously.
注文がどさどさ舞い込んでくる。
ちゅうもんがどさどさまいこんでくる。
Orders are pouring in in massive quantities.
FigurativeFigurative use for abstract things like orders arriving in massive batches as if falling from above.
書類を机の上にどさどさ積んだ。
しょるいをつくえのうえにどさどさつんだ。
I piled the documents heavily onto the desk in a big stack.
LiteralRefers to the literal action of stacking many physical objects in succession, often without careful arrangement.
Similar Words
どしどし
doshidoshi
どしどし (doshidoshi) describes doing something actively without hesitation, things happening in rapid succession, or walking with heavy, stomping footsteps. Focuses on active actions done in succession without hesitation, rather than just physical objects falling.
ぞろぞろ
zorozoro
ぞろぞろ describes a large group of people, animals, or things moving steadily together in a stream, or a long object trailing along the ground. Shows a successive flow, but is used for the movement of living things gathering or walking together.
どかっと
dokatto
Describes the action of sitting down heavily or dropping a large object with a thud. Used for a single massive heavy object landing all at once, rather than successive actions (どさどさ).
Questions
Can I use どさどさ for heavy rain?
No, どさどさ implies solid, physical masses piling up (like snow or items). For heavy rain, use ざあざあ instead.
Does どさどさ sound rough or rude?
If used to describe the way someone puts things down, it can imply that they are being careless, rough, or dumping items thoughtlessly.
What is the difference between どさどさ and どしどし?
どさどさ is mostly for heavy physical objects falling in heaps. どしどし is often for continuous, active abstract actions happening without hesitation (like taking orders or answering questions).
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2078710
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- メー (mee)
- Next entry
- どっかり (dokkari)