墜落

• Reading: ついらく
• Romaji: tsuiraku
• Kanji breakdown: 墜 (tsui) — fall, drop, crash; 落 (raku) — fall, drop
• Pronunciation: /tsɯi.ɾa.kɯ/

Meaning

A fall; a crash. Especially the crashing of an aircraft from the sky.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (墜落する). Primarily used for aircraft crashes and falls from significant height. More dramatic and catastrophic than 落ちる (to fall). Can also be used figuratively for a dramatic decline or downfall, though the literal usage is far more common. Frequently seen in news headlines about aviation disasters.

Examples

1. 小型飛行機が山中に墜落した。 A small plane crashed into the mountains.
2. 墜落事故の原因を調査している。 The cause of the crash is under investigation.
3. ヘリコプターが海上に墜落し、乗員が救助された。 A helicopter crashed into the ocean and the crew was rescued.

Usage Guide

Context: aviation, news, accidents, disasters

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 墜 (tsui, to fall/drop) + 落 (raku, to fall/drop). Both characters mean 'to fall,' creating an emphatic compound that conveys a dramatic, uncontrolled descent — particularly from a great height.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal