Entry
どさり
dosari
どさり (dosari) describes the dull, heavy thud of something substantial but somewhat yielding dropping or falling.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word represents the sound of large, heavy, and somewhat soft or yielding items (like sacks, thick books, or a human body) hitting a surface with a thud.
- heavy object falling
- body collapsing
Sense Map
Dropping Objects
The dull thud of heavy items like sacks, bags, or books falling or being placed down forcefully.
本がどさりと落ちる
Collapsing Bodies
The sound of a person collapsing or dropping onto furniture due to exhaustion.
ベッドにどさりと倒れ込む
Usage Note
How to Use
どさりと + verb (e.g., 落ちる, 置く, 倒れる)
Used as an adverb accompanied by the particle と, followed by verbs describing motion or placement.
どさり + verb
Functions directly as an adverb modifying the subsequent verb without requiring the particle と.
How to Use
Common Phrases
どさりと落ちる
to fall with a thud
どさりと置く
to put down with a heavy thud
どさりと倒れる
to collapse with a thud
どさりと座る
to sit down heavily
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy objects (bags, thick books) | Neutral | Emphasizes the dull, heavy, non-resonant sound of the object hitting a surface. |
| Human body | Negative/Exhausted | Often implies extreme exhaustion, conveying a sudden loss of all physical energy as one drops onto a bed or chair. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どしん どしん / similar | For a very heavy, hard impact that might cause vibrations in the ground (like dropping a boulder or a safe). | どさり is used for more yielding, softer heavy items (sacks, books, bodies) where the impact is duller and does not necessarily vibrate the room. | ドシンと落ちる |
どっさり どっさり / similar | When referring to a large quantity or abundance of something (e.g., heaps of presents or snow). | It is not a sound word at all; it describes volume or quantity, unlike the impact sound of どさり. | 荷物がどっさり届く |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Assuming どさり means 'a lot' or 'heaps'.
The word for 'a lot/heaps' is どっさり (dossari). どさり (dosari) refers strictly to the heavy thud sound of an object.
Using どさり to describe dropping keys or a phone.
Use どさり only for yielding, large items (sacks, bodies, books). Hard or metallic items require different words like ガチャン (gachan).
Examples
Examples
彼は重い荷物を床にどさりと置いた。
彼(かれ)は重(おも)い荷物(にもつ)を床(ゆか)にどさりと置(お)いた。
He put the heavy luggage down on the floor with a thud.
LiteralFocuses on the heavy sound when the luggage hits the floor.
棚から分厚い本がどさりと落ちてきた。
棚(たな)から分厚(ぶあつ)い本(ほん)がどさりと落(お)ちてきた。
A thick book fell from the shelf with a thud.
LiteralDescribes the sound of a thick, heavy book falling.
疲れた彼女はベッドにどさりと倒れ込んだ。
疲(つか)れた彼女(かのじょ)はベッドにどさりと倒(たお)れ込(こ)んだ。
Exhausted, she collapsed onto the bed with a heavy thud.
LiteralShows a body losing energy and collapsing onto a somewhat yielding mattress.
トラックから野菜の入った袋がどさりと下ろされた。
トラックから野菜(やさい)の入(はい)った袋(ふくろ)がどさりと下(お)ろされた。
The sack of vegetables was unloaded from the truck with a thud.
LiteralA vegetable sack is a perfect example of a heavy but non-rigid object.
屋根から雪がどさりと落ちてきた。
屋根(やね)から雪(ゆき)がどさりと落(お)ちてきた。
A lump of snow fell from the roof with a heavy thud.
VisualCaptures the physical volume of a large mass of snow falling all at once.
Similar Words
どっさり
dossari
A surprisingly large amount of physical objects piling up, or the heavy thud of a large mass dropping. Often confused due to spelling, but this means 'a large amount'.
ドシン
doshin
ドシン (doshin) represents the deep, heavy thud made when a massive object falls, lands, or collides with something. A harder, heavier impact sound that often causes vibrations.
ばったり
battari
Describes unexpectedly bumping into someone, falling down heavily, or an ongoing action coming to an abrupt halt.
Questions
Can I use どさり for dropping my smartphone?
No, a smartphone produces a sharp, hard impact sound. どさり is for larger, slightly yielding items like pillows, sacks, or heavy books.
What is the difference between どさり and どっさり?
どさり (dosari) is an auditory word describing a thud. どっさり (dossari) is a quantitative word meaning 'a massive amount'.
Does it have to mean something fell by accident?
Not necessarily. It can also describe forcefully and intentionally putting down a heavy bag (どさりと置く).
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2520810
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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