Translation guide
The English verb 'tumble' describes falling or rolling in a sudden, uncontrolled way. In Japanese, the best expression depends on what is tumbling (person, object, price) and the manner of the fall. This guide covers the most common and natural ways to express these ideas.
Describing a person falling suddenly, often rolling or tumbling down (e.g., down stairs, on the ground).
General word for falling down, tripping, or tumbling. Very common and neutral.
階段で転んでしまった。
I tumbled down the stairs.
石につまずいて転んだ。
I tripped on a stone and tumbled.
To roll over or tumble (intransitive). Used when a person or object rolls along a surface.
彼は坂を転がり落ちた。
He tumbled down the slope.
To tumble down (e.g., stairs, cliff). Emphasizes falling downward while rolling.
子供が階段から転げ落ちた。
The child tumbled down the stairs.
Onomatopoeic adverb for tumbling or falling with a roll. Casual and vivid.
すってんころりと転んだ。
I tumbled head over heels.
Describing an object falling, rolling, or tumbling (e.g., rocks, books, laundry).
Intransitive verb for something rolling or tumbling. Works for objects moving on their own.
ボールが坂を転がっていった。
The ball tumbled down the hill.
岩が山から転がり落ちた。
A rock tumbled down the mountain.
Transitive verb: to roll or tumble something. Use when someone causes the tumbling.
To collapse or crumble. Used when a pile of things tumbles down.
Describing a sudden drop in prices, stocks, or values.
To plummet or tumble (prices, stocks). Strong word for a sharp decline.
株価が暴落した。
Stock prices tumbled.
To drop suddenly. Common in news for markets or currencies.
ドルが急落した。
The dollar tumbled.
To fall, decline. More general and less dramatic than 暴落.
物価が下落した。
Prices tumbled.
Performing a tumbling move like a somersault or flip.
Forward roll or somersault. Common word for a basic tumbling move.
子供がでんぐり返しをした。
The child did a tumble.
Flip or somersault in the air. More advanced tumbling.
Loanword from English 'tumbling', used in gymnastics contexts.
Using a machine to dry clothes by tumbling them.
To put in a dryer. Standard phrase for tumble drying.
このシャツは乾燥機にかけないでください。
Don't tumble dry this shirt.
Tumble drying (noun). Often seen on care labels.
タンブル乾燥禁止
Do not tumble dry
Realizing or understanding something suddenly (British informal).
To suddenly realize. Captures the 'aha' moment.
彼は真実にはたと気づいた。
He tumbled to the truth.
To understand suddenly. Simpler alternative.
その時、急にわかった。
I tumbled to it then.
For prices or values, avoid literal translations like 転ぶ. Use financial terms like 暴落する or 急落する.
転ぶ (korobu) is for a person falling down, often from a standing position. 転がる (korogaru) is for rolling or tumbling along a surface, and can be used for both people and objects.
彼は丸太を転がした。
He tumbled the log.
積み上げた本が崩れた。
The stack of books tumbled down.
体操選手が宙返りをした。
The gymnast tumbled through the air.
タンブリングの練習をする。
Practice tumbling.