Readings: フ (Onyomi), ま.ける, ま.かす, お.う (Kunyomi)
Meaning: lose, defeat, bear, owe
The kanji 負 (ふ) originated from a pictogram depicting a person carrying something on their back. This directly led to its meaning of “bear” or “carry.” Over time, it also developed meanings related to “owing” (as in bearing a debt) and “losing” or “being defeated” (as in bearing the burden of defeat).
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 負 has 9 strokes. It starts with the top radical 貝 (かい). The first few strokes form the top part, followed by the inner components, and finally closing the bottom. Pay attention to the order and direction of each stroke for proper formation.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 貝 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- フ (Fu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- まける (Makeru)
- まかす (Makasu)
- おう (Ou)
Common Words Using 負
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 勝負 | しょうぶ | victory or defeat; match |
| 負担 | ふたん | burden; responsibility |
| 負傷 | ふしょう | injury |
| 敗北 | はいぼく | defeat |
| 負債 | ふさい | debt |
| 負荷 | ふか | load, burden (e.g., electrical load) |
| 負数 | ふすう | negative number |
| 負性 | ふせい | negativity, negative characteristic |
| 負の遺産 | ふのいさん | negative legacy |
| 負けるが勝ち | まけるが かち | To lose is to win (proverb) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 負ける | まける | to lose; to be defeated |
| 負かす | まかす | to defeat; to beat |
| 負う | おう | to bear; to carry; to owe |
| 負い目 | おいめ | debt; obligation |
| 背負う | せおう | to carry on one’s back; to bear |
| 負けず嫌い | まけずぎらい | competitive; hating to lose |
| 負け戦 | まけいくさ | losing battle |
| 負いかねる | おいかねる | to be unable to bear/carry |
| 手負い | ておい | wounded |
| 押し負ける | おしまける | to be overpowered; to be outmatched |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 試合に負けて悔しかった。
Kana: しあいにまけてくやしかった。
Romaji: Shiai ni makete kuyashikatta.
English: I was frustrated because I lost the game.
Japanese: 彼はライバルを負かした。
Kana: かれはライバルをまかした。
Romaji: Kare wa raibaru o makashita.
English: He defeated his rival.
Japanese: 大きな責任を負っている。
Kana: おおきなせきにんをおっている。
Romaji: Ookina sekinin o otte iru.
English: I bear a great responsibility.
Japanese: その仕事は彼にとって大きな負担だ。
Kana: そのしごとはかれにとっておおきなふたんだ。
Romaji: Sono shigoto wa kare ni totte ookina futan da.
English: That job is a big burden for him.
Japanese: 彼は事故で負傷した。
Kana: かれはじこでふしょうした。
Romaji: Kare wa jiko de fushou shita.
English: He was injured in an accident.
Japanese: 勝負の行方はまだわからない。
Kana: しょうぶのゆくえはまだわからない。
Romaji: Shoubu no yukue wa mada wakaranai.
English: The outcome of the match is still unknown.
Japanese: 会社は巨額の負債を抱えている。
Kana: かいしゃはきょがくのふさいをかかえている。
Romaji: Kaisha wa kyogaku no fusai o kakaete iru.
English: The company is burdened with enormous debt.
Japanese: 彼女は負けず嫌いなので、努力を惜しまない。
Kana: かのじょはまけずぎらいなので、どりょくをおしまない。
Romaji: Kanojo wa makezugirai nanode, doryoku o oshimani.
English: She hates to lose, so she spares no effort.
Japanese: このグラフは負の数を示している。
Kana: このグラフはふのかずをしめしている。
Romaji: Kono gurafu wa fu no kazu o shimeshite iru.
English: This graph shows negative numbers.
Japanese: 彼は自分の過ちを背負って生きていく。
Kana: かれはじぶんのあやまちをせおってきていく。
Romaji: Kare wa jibun no ayamachi o seotte ikite iku.
English: He lives bearing his own mistakes.
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