試験に落ちる

Using this phrase is super simple. Take the name of the test and add に落ちる. For example, JLPTに落ちた means "I failed the JLPT." The particle に is the key here. It points to the specific exam that tripped you up. If you want to sound more natural with friends, use the "te-form" with shimau. Saying 落ちちゃった (ochichatta) adds a touch of "oops, I did it" regret. It makes you sound human and relatable. It’s much more common in speech than the formal noun version.

This is your go-to phrase for academic settings. Use it when talking about university entrance exams. Use it for your driver's license test. It even works for job interviews sometimes. If there was a formal "pass/fail" result, 落ちる is the word. You’ll hear it in school hallways and at dinner tables. It’s a factual way to share bad news. Just be prepared for a sympathetic "Don't worry!" from your friends. It's a very relatable experience in Japan.

Don't use this for general failures in life. If you failed to wake up on time, don't use 落ちる. If you failed to fix your car, this isn't the phrase. It’s strictly for tests and evaluations. Also, be careful around "exam season" in Japan (January to March). Using any words related to "falling" or "slipping" near a student is considered bad luck. It’s like saying "break a leg" but in a way that actually sounds like a curse! Keep it away from people who are currently stressed about studying.

Japan has a famous "Examination Hell" (Juken Jigoku). Getting into the right school is a massive deal. Because of this, 落ちる carries a lot of weight. There are even "lucky foods" to prevent falling. Students eat KitKats because the name sounds like Kitto Katsu (Surely win). They avoid eating bananas because the peel makes you "slip" (suberu), which is another word for failing. Failing isn't just a grade; it's a major life event that people take very seriously.

If you want to be formal, use 不合格になる (fugoukaku ni naru). This sounds like an official letter from a university. It’s cold and professional. On the flip side, if you want to be slangy, you might hear 滑る (suberu). This literally means "to slip." It’s often used for entrance exams. If you fail a test but get a second chance, you might talk about the 追試 (tsuishi), which is the make-up exam. Hopefully, you won't need that one! Just remember: 落ちる is the most natural for daily life.