I cannot, for the love of my life, understand the difference between

  * 下る{くだる}

  * 下りる{おりる}

  * 下がる{さがる}

Don't they all mean the same, basically? Is there a difference, and if yes,
how could I proceed to get it?
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2014-09-13T11:32:35.570
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2020-10-05T18:15:51.170
2014-09-14T02:15:21.120
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question
words usage meaning
Difference between 下る、下りる、下がる?
`おりる` and `くだる` both mean to move from a high place to a low(er) place. The
difference is that the former focuses on the end point/result, whereas the
latter focuses on the movement and/or the course taken. `さがる` means to go down
or back, often used in relation to some value or standard. You also use it
when a part of something (bodily or other) lowers from its normal position.

Here are a couple of examples from my book (which I can't find in order to
credit it):

```

    　　　　　　　　　　|　おりる　|　くだる　|　さがる
    ――――――――――――――――――――――――――
    急いで山を～　　　　|　　〇　　|　　〇　　|
    小舟で川を～　　　　|　　　　　|　　〇　　|
    舞台に幕が～ている　|　　〇　　|　　　　　|　　〇
    成績が五番～　　　　|　　　　　|　　　　　|　　〇
    一歩後ろへ～　　　　|　　　　　|　　　　　|　　〇
    
```

Here's a screenshot if it's misaligned in your browser (courtesy of @psosuna)

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/hWy0g.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/hWy0g.png)
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2014-09-14T04:35:59.723
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2020-07-06T16:17:53.967
2020-07-06T16:17:53.967
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answer