下げる

• Reading: さげる
• Romaji: sageru
• Kanji breakdown: 下 (ka/sa) — down, below, lower
• Pronunciation: /sa.ɡe.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To hang; to lower; to suspend; to bring down. Used for lowering objects, reducing levels, or hanging things.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb conjugated by dropping る (下げて, 下げた, 下げます). The transitive counterpart of 下がる (to go down). Common uses: 頭を下げる (bow your head), 音量を下げる (turn down the volume), カバンを肩から下げる (hang a bag from your shoulder). Also means to clear dishes from the table: お皿を下げる.

Examples

1. 音楽の音量を少し下げてください。 Please turn down the music volume a little.
2. 彼は頭を下げてお礼を言った。 He bowed his head and said thank you.
3. お皿を下げてもいいですか。 May I clear the dishes?

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, restaurants, manners

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Uses the same kanji 下 (below/down) as 下がる. The える ending marks it as a transitive ichidan verb — the agent actively causes something to go down.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal