Entry
どしり
doshiri
Doshiri describes the blunt, resounding thud made when a massive or heavy object falls and hits a surface.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word represents the sound and impact of something with significant weight dropping down abruptly. It emphasizes the solid, non-bouncing landing of the object. Aside from inanimate heavy objects like rocks or safes, it can also describe a large or exhausted person plopping down forcefully into a chair or collapsing onto the ground.
- heavy thud
- falling or sitting heavily
Sense Map
Heavy Object Falling
The loud, dull thud of a massive object, such as a rock or iron weight, hitting the ground.
重い岩がどしりと落ちる
Body Dropping Forcefully
The heavy impact of a large person sitting down or collapsing, emphasizing their body weight.
ソファにどしりと座る
Usage Note
How to Use
どしりと + verb
The most common form, acting as an adverb to modify verbs of falling, dropping, or sitting.
どしり + verb
A variant without the particle と, carrying the exact same meaning but sounding slightly more abrupt.
How to Use
Common Phrases
どしりと落ちる
to fall with a thud
どしりと座る
to sit down heavily
どしりと倒れる
to collapse heavily
どしりと響く
to echo with a heavy thud
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Solid objects falling | neutral | Highlights the mass of the object and the blunt, solid, non-bouncing sound upon impact. |
| Person sitting down | neutral | Can give the impression that the person is exhausted or letting their full weight drop onto the seat. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どっしり どっしり / similar | Used to describe the state or appearance of something being massive, solid, and immovable. | どっしり (dosshiri) focuses on the continuous state or impression of being heavy and stable, while どしり (doshiri) describes the momentary action or sound of a heavy object hitting something. | どっしりとした構え |
どうと どうと / similar | Used for a louder, more massive crashing sound, like a large tree falling over or a structure collapsing. | どうと (douto) gives the impression of a more dramatic crash or destruction, whereas どしり focuses on the blunt sound of heavy weight landing safely. | 大木がどうと倒れる |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for a small or light object dropping.
どしり is strictly for very heavy objects. For a dropping book or pen, use パタリ (patari) or コトリ (kotori).
Using どしり to say a building looks sturdy and heavy.
To describe something that looks solid and immovable, you must use どっしり (dosshiri), not どしり.
Examples
Examples
巨大な岩がどしりと落ちた。
きょだいな いわ が どしり と おちた。
The huge rock fell with a heavy thud.
VisualVisualization of a huge rock dropping to the ground.
彼は疲れた様子で、ソファにどしりと座った。
かれ は つかれた ようす で、 ソファ に どしり と すわった。
He sat down heavily on the sofa, looking exhausted.
VisualShows the action of plopping down exhaustedly.
重い荷物が床にどしりと落ちる音がした。
おもい にもつ が ゆか に どしり と おちる おと が した。
There was the sound of heavy luggage dropping onto the floor with a thud.
LiteralFocuses on the heavy sound when the luggage hits the floor.
大男が地面にどしりと倒れた。
おおおとこ が じめん に どしり と たおれた。
The large man collapsed heavily onto the ground.
VisualDepicts a large and heavy body collapsing.
金庫がどしりという音を立てて置かれた。
きんこ が どしり と いう おと を たてて おかれた。
The safe was placed down with a heavy thudding sound.
LiteralThe loud impact sound of heavy metal landing.
Similar Words
どうと
douto
Represents the loud, resonant, and impactful sound of a massive or heavy object hitting the ground forcefully, or a person collapsing. A louder, rougher crashing sound when something collapses.
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. For a heavy and stable state (not the action of falling).
どたり
dotari
Describes the heavy, dull impact or sound of a massive object or a person collapsing helplessly to the ground.
どかり
dokari
A word that describes the sound or state of a heavy object falling, or a person dropping their body weight heavily when sitting down.
Questions
Can どしり be used for heavy footsteps?
Not typically. Heavy, stomping footsteps are usually described with ずしずし (zushizushi) or どたどた (dotadota).
What is the difference between どしり and どっしり?
どしり (doshiri) is the momentary action or sound of a heavy object landing (a thud). どっしり (dosshiri) describes the constant state of something being big, stable, and heavy.
Does どしり imply something broke?
No. どしり focuses on the weight and the landing sound, not destruction. For the sound of something smashing or breaking, ガシャン (gashan) is more appropriate.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2586230
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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