下回る

• Reading: したまわる
• Romaji: shitamawaru
• Kanji breakdown: 下 (ka/shita) — below, under; 回 (kai/mawa) — turn, revolve
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.ta.ma.wa.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To fall below; to be less than; to be lower than. Used for figures, statistics, or expectations that come in under a certain level.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb commonly used in news, business, and data analysis to describe numbers or results falling below a target, estimate, or previous figure. The opposite of 上回る (to exceed). Frequently appears with を to mark the benchmark being fallen short of.

Examples

1. 今月の売上は目標を下回った。 This month's sales fell below the target.
2. 気温が平年を下回る日が続いている。 Days with temperatures below the seasonal average have continued.
3. 予想を下回り、株価が急落した。 The stock price plummeted after coming in below expectations.

Usage Guide

Context: business, news, statistics

Tone: objective

Origin & History

Compound of 下 (below, under) and 回る (to turn, to go around). Literally means to go around below — circling under a certain threshold or standard.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional