Translation guide
The English word 'downhill' can describe physical downward movement, a decline in quality or condition, or a type of skiing. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression based on the intended meaning.
Describing movement, direction, or slope going down.
Used for a downward slope, descent, or downhill journey. Common in transport contexts like 'downhill train'.
この道は下り坂です。
This road is downhill.
下り電車に乗ってください。
Please take the downhill train.
Literally 'downhill slope'. Used for roads, paths, or metaphorical declines.
ここから下り坂が続きます。
From here it continues downhill.
Means 'facing downward' or 'pointing down'. Used for orientation, not movement.
矢印が下向きです。
The arrow is pointing downhill.
Describing a situation, performance, or health that is getting worse.
A general verb meaning 'to worsen' or 'deteriorate'. Suitable for health, situations, or quality.
彼の健康は悪化している。
His health is going downhill.
業績が悪化した。
Business performance went downhill.
Means 'to fall' or 'drop'. Used for declining quality, grades, or reputation.
Metaphorical use of 'downhill slope' to mean a decline, often in life or career.
彼の人生は下り坂だ。
His life is going downhill.
Referring to the sport of downhill skiing.
Loanword from English, used specifically for the skiing discipline.
彼はダウンヒルの選手です。
He is a downhill skier.
Japanese term for downhill skiing race or descent.
When saying something is 'going downhill' in the sense of deteriorating, do not directly translate 'downhill' as 下り坂 unless you mean a literal slope. Use 悪化する or 落ちる for natural Japanese.
My grades have been going downhill lately.
滑降競技はスピードが命だ。
In downhill racing, speed is everything.