Meaning
落下 is a versatile verb meaning to fall or drop downward, either literally (leaves falling, rain dropping) or figuratively (falling behind in progress, leaving something behind). It combines 落 (to fall) with the directional complement 下 (down) to emphasize downward motion or the completion of falling.
Usage
Native speakers use 落下 for physical falling (tears, objects, precipitation) and for falling behind in work, study, or health. It's also commonly used for accidentally leaving items somewhere. The pronunciation is always 'luò xià' in this verb compound, though 落 alone can be 'là' or 'lào' in other contexts.
Examples
- 01树叶一片片落下来了。.The leaves are falling down one by one.
- 02我不小心把钥匙落下在办公室了。.I accidentally left my keys behind in the office.
Characters
Common collocations
- 落下眼泪to shed tears
- 落下功课to fall behind in schoolwork
- 落下病根to develop a chronic condition
- 把...落下...to leave something behind
Antonyms
Origin
The compound combines 落 (fall) with the directional complement 下 (down), a common pattern in Mandarin where directional words follow verbs to indicate direction or completion of action.