Entry
どさっと
dosatto
どさっと is the heavy, dull thud of a bulky object, a large quantity of something, or a person falling or being dropped all at once.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word represents the dull, heavy sound and sudden manner of a bulky or heavy object falling, collapsing, or being dropped. The voiced initial sound (ど) conveys a sense of heaviness, while the small 'っ' indicates a sudden, blunt impact.
- Heavy objects or loads falling/dropped
- A person collapsing heavily
Sense Map
Dropping/Falling Objects
Heavy objects or a large quantity of something (like bags, snow, or a stack of books) falling or being put down all at once.
荷物をどさっと置く
Collapsing
A person collapsing or throwing themselves down heavily, often due to exhaustion.
ベッドにどさっと倒れる
Usage Note
How to Use
どさっと + verb
Functions as an adverb modifying how an action occurs, describing a sudden, heavy drop or collapse with a thud.
どさっと + 落ちる/倒れる
How to Use
Common Phrases
どさっと落ちる
to fall with a thud (e.g., snow from a roof)
どさっと置く
to dump/put down (heavy things) with a thud
どさっと倒れる
to collapse heavily (e.g., from exhaustion)
雪がどさっと
a large mass of snow falling
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dumping a stack of files on a desk | neutral | Indicates the files were dropped all at once, making a noticeable thud, perhaps suggesting the person is busy or irritated. |
| Collapsing onto a bed | neutral | Shows the person just let their entire body weight fall without breaking their descent, usually from extreme fatigue. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どすっと どすっと / similar | Used for a deeper, duller impact, often involving something penetrating or landing with concentrated force. | "どさっと" focuses more on volume or mass dropping all at once, whereas "どすっと" focuses on the deeper, dull sound. | 腹をどすっと殴られる |
どっさり どっさり / similar | Used to emphasize a large quantity or volume of something existing, rather than the sound of falling. | "どさっと" is the heavy thud of dropping, whereas "どっさり" describes a massive amount of something being present without implying a sound. | 宿題がどっさりある |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using どさっと for small, light items dropping.
どさっと requires substantial mass. Dropping a pen or a coin does not make a どさっと sound; you would use words like コトリ (kotori) or チャリン (charin) instead.
Confusing どさっと (sound of a heavy drop) with どっさり (a large quantity of things).
While you might drop a lot of things (どっさり) with a thud (どさっと), they are not interchangeable. どさっと is an action/sound, whereas どっさり often describes a state of abundance.
Examples
Examples
荷物をどさっと床に置いた。
にもつをどさっとゆかにおいた。
I put the luggage down on the floor with a heavy thud.
LiteralIndicates the luggage was dropped all at once without being lowered gently.
屋根の雪がどさっと落ちてきた。
やねのゆきがどさっとおちてきた。
A mass of snow fell from the roof with a heavy thud.
LiteralA classic example for a heavy, dense clump of snow falling all at once.
大量の書類を机の上にどさっと置かれた。
たいりょうのしょるいをつくえのうえにどさっとおかれた。
A massive pile of documents was dumped onto the desk with a thud.
LiteralThe passive form (置かれた) shows this was done by someone else, often implying a heavy burden of work being thrust upon the speaker.
疲れてベッドにどさっと倒れ込んだ。
つかれてベッドにどさっとたおれこんだ。
I collapsed heavily onto the bed from exhaustion.
VisualShows the person lost all energy and let their body fall without trying to catch themselves.
買い物袋をどさっとテーブルに降ろした。
かいものぶくろをどさっとテーブルにおろした。
I dropped the shopping bags onto the table with a thud.
LiteralHeavy shopping bags being put down all at once, often implying a sense of relief.
Similar Words
どすっと
dosutto
More focused on a deep, dull impact, often penetrating or landing with concentrated force.
Questions
Can I use どさっと when a person trips and falls?
Yes, if they fall heavily in a heap. However, if they fall forcefully with a loud crash, ドスン (dosun) or バタン (batan) might also be used.
What is the difference between どさっと and ばさっと?
どさっと sounds heavier and more compact (like bags or books). ばさっと implies something broad, dry, or spreading out as it falls, like a stack of loose papers, leaves, or fabric.
Is this word positive or negative?
It's context-dependent. Relieving yourself of a heavy backpack with a どさっと sound feels positive/relieving. Someone dumping extra work on your desk with a どさっと feels negative.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2088940
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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