DOKKA-RI どっかり
Meanings
Describes a person or heavy object settling heavily into a place and occupying it with an impression of being difficult to move; figuratively, it can describe someone firmly entrenched in a position.
Examples
A huge man was sprawled across enough space for two people, sitting there like an immovable object. He was really in the way.
体の大きな男が、二人分のスペースにどっかりと座っていて、実に邪魔だ。
The president’s relatives are firmly entrenched in all the senior positions, so I have no hope of promotion.
上の役職には社長の親族がどっかり居座っているので、出世は望めない。
Dogmatic Opinion
Weight and size matter, but so does the speaker’s subjective feeling that the person or thing is not going anywhere: “That won’t be easy to move.”
There is often a faint critical edge as well—“You’re in the way,” or “That’s rather selfish of you.”
So DOKKA-RI is not simply “sit heavily.” It combines occupying space, physical or social immovability, and sometimes the observer’s annoyance at the occupation.
Proximate Expression
plunk oneself down
to sit down with dignity
plopping down weightily
flopping down heavily
Related Words
For Japanese Learners
Plop oneself down, sit heavily, plant oneself, occupy a large space, and be firmly entrenched may fit. DOKKA-RI often sounds more imposing and obstructive than a neutral description of sitting.
