Entry
ドタン
dotan
Mimics the heavy, sudden sound of a large object or person hitting the floor with a thud.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
An onomatopoeia describing a heavy, flat, and sudden impact sound. It is commonly used when a large physical object drops or a person collapses heavily onto the floor. The word emphasizes the sheer weight of the object and the abrupt nature of the fall.
- sound of a heavy object falling
- sound of a person collapsing
Sense Map
Heavy Object Falling
Used to describe the thudding sound of a significantly heavy object striking the floor or ground.
荷物がドタンと落ちる
Person Collapsing
Describes the sound produced when someone falls abruptly, faints, or throws themselves down roughly.
ベッドにドタンと倒れる
Usage Note
How to Use
ドタンと + verb
Functions as an adverb specifying that the action (like falling) happened with a loud thud.
ドタンという + noun
Used to modify a noun, typically meaning 'a thudding sound' (ドタンという音).
ドタンと + place down/fall
How to Use
Common Phrases
ドタンと倒れる
to collapse with a thud
ドタンと落ちる
to fall down with a heavy impact
ドタンという音
a thudding sound
床にドタンと
with a thud onto the floor
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Throwing an exhausted body onto a bed | neutral | Indicates extreme exhaustion because the movement is completely unguarded and uncontrolled. |
| A heavy box slipping from your hands | neutral | Highlights the clumsiness of the drop or the overwhelming weight of the item. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ばたん ばたん / similar | Used for loud slamming sounds, particularly flat objects like doors. | While バタン is often a slam or a bang, ドタン implies a heavier dead-weight thud moving vertically downward. | ドアがバタンと閉まる |
どしん どしん / similar | Used for deeply reverberating heavy impacts or massive footsteps. | ドタン is usually a flatter and blunter thud, whereas ドシン suggests a heavier vibration traveling through the ground. | ドシンと響く |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using ドタン for light items dropping, like a pen or a coin.
ドタン strictly applies to heavy objects or bodies. For small objects, words like 'カラン' (karan) are better suited.
Using ドタン to describe slamming a door.
A door slamming shut is standardly described with 'バタン', not ドタン.
Examples
Examples
疲れてベッドにドタンと倒れ込んだ。
つかれてベッドにドタンとたおれこんだ。
Exhausted, I collapsed onto the bed with a thud.
LiteralShows the action of giving up one's body weight completely without resistance due to exhaustion.
本棚から重い辞書がドタンと落ちた。
ほんだなからおもいじしょがドタンとおちた。
A heavy dictionary fell from the bookshelf with a thud.
LiteralEmphasizes that the dropped item was massive and dense.
上の階からドタンという音が聞こえた。
うえのかいからドタンというおとがきこえた。
I heard a loud thudding sound from the floor above.
LiteralUsed to describe the name of the sound itself caused by the impact.
彼はバランスを崩して、床にドタンと尻もちをついた。
かれはバランスをくずして、ゆかにドタンとしりもちをついた。
He lost his balance and fell sharply onto his bottom on the floor with a thud.
VisualIndicates that the fall was completely uncontrolled and harsh.
怒ったように大きな荷物をドタンと置いた。
おこったようにおおきなにもつをドタンとおいた。
They placed the large luggage down with a heavy thud, as if they were angry.
FigurativeSometimes violently dropping an item with a loud thud implies frustration or emotional anger.
Similar Words
バタン
batan
A loud, heavy sound of impact, such as a door slamming or someone falling flat. バタン is used for flat objects slamming (like doors), whereas ドタン is for heavy vertical dead weights.
ドシン
doshin
ドシン (doshin) represents the deep, heavy thud made when a massive object falls, lands, or collides with something. ドシン implies a heavily reverberating impact shaking the ground, unlike the blunter single thud of ドタン.
Questions
Can I use ドタン for heavy footsteps?
Heavy footsteps are normally expressed as 'ドスンドスン' or 'ドシン'. ドタン is generally reserved for a single heavy fall or drop.
Is it written in hiragana or katakana?
Both can be seen, but as a mimetic word portraying a loud sound, katakana (ドタン) is significantly more common.
Does this word have a negative connotation?
Not inherently; it simply describes a sound. However, contextually, dropping something with a thud might imply carelessness.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1088270
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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