fall, drop, decline

落 is composed of the radical of 艸 (grass) and 洛 (name of river). Since the original meaning of 洛 refers to water flowing down to a lower point, carrying the sense of dropping or falling, 落 was later created to preserve this primary meaning after 洛 came to be used as a river name and for other extended meanings. 艸 was added to reflect the seasonal dropping of foliage: in winter, as trees and plants wither, their leaves fall to the ground—thus 落 conveys the sense of falling, dropping, or shedding.