Entry
どてん
doten
どてん (doten) describes the dull, heavy sound or action of something substantial falling, collapsing, or landing with a thud.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This giongo (phonic) word vividly captures a heavy impact, like a large object hitting the ground or a person flopping lazily onto a couch. It emphasizes the weight and the dull nature of the sound, often implying a lack of resistance or control during the fall.
- A heavy object falling with a thud
- A person collapsing or flopping down
Sense Map
Heavy Drop
The dull sound of a large or heavy object hitting a surface.
荷物がどてんと落ちた。
Collapsing or Flopping
The action of a person falling over heavily, or flopping down in exhaustion.
ベッドにどてんと倒れる。
Usage Note
How to Use
どてんと + verb
Describes the manner in which an action (usually falling or sitting) is performed, specifically indicating it happens with a heavy thud.
How to Use
Common Phrases
どてんと倒れる
to collapse with a thud
どてんと落ちる
to drop heavily
どてんと座る
to plop down
どてんと尻餅をつく
to fall on one's bottom with a thud
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy object falling | Neutral | Describes the physical impact and the heavy, dull sound produced. |
| Person sitting or falling | Informal | Implies the person is letting their full weight drop carelessly or exhaustedly. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どすん どすん / similar | For heavy vertical landings or forceful footsteps. | ドスン emphasizes a direct, forceful downward impact, while どてん (doten) focuses more on passively losing balance, tumbling over, or flopping down lazily. | ドスンと着地する。 |
どたん どたん / similar | For a noisy, flat slam (like a door) or a loud, harsh crash. | ドタン sounds sharper and noisier, often involving broad flat surfaces, whereas どてん (doten) sounds duller and heavier. | ドアがドタンと閉まる。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using どてん for continuous heavy footsteps.
どてん represents a single instance of falling or dropping. For heavy footsteps, use ドスン (dosun).
Applying どてん to small, light objects.
It is reserved for heavy items that make a loud, dull thud. For small objects, use words like ポロッ (poro) or コトリ (kotori).
Examples
Examples
疲れてベッドにどてんと倒れ込んだ。
つかれてベッドにどてんとたおれこんだ。
I was so tired that I flopped heavily onto the bed.
LiteralDescribes a tired body throwing its weight passively onto a surface.
大きな荷物が床にどてんと落ちた。
おおきなにもつがゆかにどてんとおちた。
The large package dropped to the floor with a heavy thud.
LiteralEmphasizes the heavy weight of the dropping item.
彼はソファにどてんと座った。
かれはソファにどてんとすわった。
He plopped down heavily onto the sofa.
LiteralShows a very relaxed but careless way of sitting down.
滑ってどてんと尻餅をついた。
すべってどてんとしりもちをついた。
I slipped and fell hard on my bottom with a thud.
LiteralThe impact sound of a sudden, ungraceful fall.
熊のような大男がどてんと倒れた。
くまのようなおおおとこがどてんとたおれた。
The large bear-like man collapsed with a heavy thud.
LiteralHighlights the sheer mass of the person hitting the ground.
Similar Words
ドシン
doshin
ドシン (doshin) represents the deep, heavy thud made when a massive object falls, lands, or collides with something.
ドタン
dotan
Mimics the heavy, sudden sound of a large object or person hitting the floor with a thud. ドタン sounds sharper and noisier, whereas どてん sounds duller and heavier.
バタン
batan
A loud, heavy sound of impact, such as a door slamming or someone falling flat.
ドスン
dosun
A heavy, dull sound produced when a large or heavy object falls, lands, or collides. ドスン emphasizes a direct, forceful downward impact, while どてん focuses more on passively losing balance or flopping down lazily.
Questions
Does どてん mean the object broke?
Not necessarily. It focuses on the heavy impact of the landing, not the condition of the object afterward.
Can I use どてん for someone being punched?
No, it's used for falling or dropping. For a heavy punch, どん (don) or ドスッ (dosu) is more appropriate.
What is the difference between どてん and ドスン (dosun)?
Both mean a thud, but どてん strongly implies tumbling over or flopping down passively, while ドスン is often used for heavy vertical landings or footsteps.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2848187
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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