倒

JLPT N3

Fall, collapse

Readings

On’yomi: トウ (tō)

Kun’yomi: たお(れる), たお(す) (tao(reru), tao(su))

• たお(れる) – to fall down, collapse • たお(す) – to knock down, defeat

Structure

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Detailed Explanation

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Mnemonic

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Etymology

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Visual Tip

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Vocabulary

倒れる

たおれる

fall

倒す

たおす

knock down

圧倒

あっとう

overwhelm

転倒

てんとう

fall down

打倒

だとう

overthrow

Example Sentences

木が倒れます。

きがたおれます。

The tree falls.

敵を倒します。

てきをたおします。

I knock down the enemy.

力に圧倒されます。

ちからにあっとうされます。

I am overwhelmed by power.

雪で転倒します。

ゆきでてんとうします。

I fall due to snow.

独裁を打倒します。

どくさいをだとうします。

They overthrow the dictatorship.

Cultural Note

🌸 倒 often extends beyond physical meaning — it also reflects emotional or social “collapse.”
• 「倒れる」 can describe fainting or even a company’s bankruptcy.
• 「面倒」 (bother/trouble) expresses a sense of inconvenience — very common in daily speech, showing Japan’s sensitivity to harmony and effort.
• 「圧倒」 reflects admiration — being emotionally “knocked down” by beauty, skill, or strength.