Entry
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.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
A phonomime (giongo) that depicts a heavy, violent collision or crashing sound. It is used when something with significant mass—such as a large tree, a building, a heavy load of snow, or a human body—suddenly falls, crumbles, or slumps down with a resounding boom.
- Massive object falling
- Person collapsing
Sense Map
Massive Object Falling
The crashing sound of a very large or extremely heavy inanimate object falling to the ground.
大木がどうと倒れる。
Body Collapsing
Describes a person suddenly falling or slumping to the ground or onto a bed due to exhaustion or losing consciousness.
ベッドにどうと倒れ込む。
Usage Note
How to Use
どうと + verb
Directly modifies verbs related to falling, collapsing, or crumbling (such as 倒れる, 落ちる, 崩れる).
どうと音がする
Used to state that a loud, crashing sound was heard from a heavy object falling.
How to Use
Common Phrases
どうと倒れる
collapse heavily
どうと落ちる
fall with a crash
どうと崩れる
crumble with a crash
どうと音がする
make a crashing sound
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Massive object falling | neutral | Emphasizes the overwhelming sheer mass and impact of a physical object crashing. |
| Person collapsing | negative | Depicts the severity of someone losing consciousness or being extremely exhausted to the point of a heavy fall. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どしり どしり / similar | Used for a heavy object landing solidly, or a large person sitting down heavily. | Focuses more on the heavy, solid thud of settling rather than a destructive crash or structural collapse like どうと. | どしりと座る。 |
ばたん ばたん / similar | Used for the loud, flat banging sound of doors closing, or a stiff object falling flat. | Focuses on the sharp, flat noise rather than the sheer massive weight and resonant crash of どうと. | ドアがバタンと閉まる。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it when you drop a small item like a phone or a pen.
This word is exclusively for very large, heavy things falling, like a tree or a human body.
Using it for continuous loud noises like a revving engine.
It describes a single, sudden impact or crashing sound, not a sustained or mechanical noise.
Examples
Examples
大木がどうと倒れた。
たいぼくがどうとたおれた。
The large tree fell over with a massive crash.
LiteralDepicts the crashing sound of a giant tree falling.
彼は疲れ果てて、ベッドにどうと倒れ込んだ。
かれはつかれはてて、ベッドにどうとたおれこんだ。
He was completely exhausted and collapsed heavily onto the bed.
VisualFocuses on a body dropping like a heavy object due to losing all energy.
地震で古い塀がどうと崩れ落ちた。
じしんでふるいへいがどうとくずれおちた。
The old wall crumbled down with a crash in the earthquake.
LiteralShows the destruction of a heavy structure like a brick or concrete wall.
屋根から雪がどうと落ちてきた。
やねからゆきがどうとおちてきた。
The snow fell from the roof with a heavy thud.
LiteralAccumulated snow is incredibly heavy and produces a thick, thudding impact.
崖から岩がどうと音を立てて転がり落ちた。
がけからいわがどうとおとをたててころがりおちた。
Rocks tumbled down the cliff with a crashing sound.
LiteralFocuses on the massive weight of rocks hitting the ground repeatedly.
Similar Words
どしり
doshiri
Doshiri describes the blunt, resounding thud made when a massive or heavy object falls and hits a surface. Focuses more on solid, heavy settling rather than an explosive crash.
バタン
batan
A loud, heavy sound of impact, such as a door slamming or someone falling flat. Typically used for flat objects falling or doors slamming, emphasizing the sharp noise rather than immense weight.
どん
don
どん (don) describes a heavy thud or loud boom, and is often used figuratively to mean landing 'exactly' on target or adopting a bold, steady attitude.
Questions
Can I use どうと for a car crash?
Not usually. どうと is specifically for heavy things falling or collapsing downwards, not typically for horizontal collisions like cars crashing into each other (which would be ガシャン or ドーン).
What is the difference between どうと and どうど?
They are variations of the same sound. どうど with a dakuten (voiced mark) sounds even heavier, duller, and more massive than どうと.
Can どうと be used for abstract failures, like a business going bankrupt?
No, it is generally used for physical, tangible objects falling or people physically collapsing that produce a real sound.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2567430
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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