下ろす

• Reading: おろす
• Romaji: orosu
• Kanji breakdown: 下 (oro/ka/ge) — below, lower, descend
• Pronunciation: /o.ɾo.sɯ/

Meaning

To take down; to lower; to drop off; to withdraw money. Physically bringing something from a higher to lower position.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugating with the s-row (下ろす → 下ろさない → 下ろして). Versatile verb with many concrete meanings: lowering a bag from a shelf (荷物を下ろす), dropping off a passenger (客を下ろす), withdrawing cash from an ATM (お金を下ろす), and starting to use something new (新品を下ろす). The intransitive counterpart is 下りる.

Examples

1. 棚から箱を下ろしてくれる？ Can you take that box down from the shelf?
2. ATMでお金を下ろしてくる。 I'm going to go withdraw some money from the ATM.
3. 次のバス停で下ろしてください。 Please let me off at the next bus stop.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, banking, transport

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Transitive form built from the kanji 下 (below/down) with the す ending creating a causative action — 'to cause to go down.' The ろ infix distinguishes this from 下す (kudasu) which focuses on authority rather than physical movement.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal