
"떨어지다" and "넘어지다" both mean falling, but they have different nuances and usage contexts.
1. "떨어지다" (To fall from a height or position)
✅ Used when something or someone falls downward due to gravity
"떨어지다" is used when an object or person falls from a higher position to a lower one.
🔹 Usage:
- When something drops from a higher place
- When a person falls from a height
- When something gets separated or detached
- When someone fails a test or competition
🔹 Examples:
- 나뭇잎이 바람에 떨어졌어요.
→ (A leaf fell due to the wind.) - 그는 사다리에서 떨어졌어요.
→ (He fell off the ladder.) - 휴대폰을 떨어뜨려서 화면이 깨졌어요.
→ (I dropped my phone, and the screen broke.) - 시험에서 떨어졌어요.
→ (I failed the test.)
📌 Summary:
✔ Falling from a higher position to a lower one
✔ Can be used for objects, people, or failures
✔ Can also mean something is detached or removed
2. "넘어지다" (To fall over or trip)
✅ Used when someone or something loses balance and falls
"넘어지다" describes when a person, animal, or object falls sideways due to losing balance.
🔹 Usage:
- When a person trips and falls
- When an object tips over
- When a structure collapses
🔹 Examples:
- 길에서 돌에 걸려 넘어졌어요.
→ (I tripped over a stone and fell on the street.) - 아이가 놀다가 넘어졌어요.
→ (The child was playing and fell over.) - 강한 바람 때문에 나무가 넘어졌어요.
→ (The tree fell over because of the strong wind.) - 축구 경기 중에 미끄러져서 넘어졌어요.
→ (I slipped and fell during the soccer game.)
📌 Summary:
✔ Falling due to tripping or losing balance
✔ Used for people, animals, and objects that tip over
✔ Often involves unexpected accidents
Key Differences
떨어지다 넘어지다
Meaning | To fall from a height | To trip, slip, or fall over |
Usage | Objects or people falling downward | People or objects tipping over |
Example | 사과가 나무에서 떨어졌어요. (The apple fell from the tree.) | 길에서 넘어졌어요. (I tripped and fell on the street.) |
Comparison in the same sentence:
🔹 "사다리에서 떨어졌어요." (I fell from the ladder.) → Focuses on falling from a height
🔹 "계단에서 넘어졌어요." (I tripped and fell on the stairs.) → Focuses on losing balance and falling over
💡 Tip for learners:
- "떨어지다" = Falling from a higher position (gravity, failure, separation)
- "넘어지다" = Losing balance and falling (tripping, tipping over)