How to say 'Lose' in Japanese | 失う

Wondering how to say 'Lose' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Lose is 'Ushinau', written as 失う in Japanese.'Lose' in hiragana is うしなう.

word

失う

Meaning

Lose

Reading

うしなう

ushinau

Kanji

失Lose, Fault

Explanation

The Japanese verb '失う (うしなう)' means 'to lose'. It is used when someone or something loses a possession, a person, an opportunity, or even an abstract concept like hope or trust. This verb can be used in both literal and figurative contexts. For example: I lost my wallet「財布を失った」(さいふをうしなった). He lost his job「彼は仕事を失った」(かれはしごとをうしなった). She lost her confidence「彼女は自信を失った」(かのじょはじしんをうしなった). The verb often carries a sense of permanence or irreversibility, emphasizing the gravity of the loss.

Part Of Speech

verb

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

761

Composition

kanji-hiragana

Handwriting

This word is a godan verb. To learn how it transforms in different tenses and forms, explore all its conjugations.

Kanji in the Word 失う

This word contains 1 kanji character:

kanji

失

Meaning

Lose, Fault

Hiragana in the Word 失う

This word contains 1 Hiragana character :

hiragana

う

Reading

Words Related to 失う Through the Kanji 失

These 7 Words contain the Kanji 失 as well.

word

失礼

Meaning

Excuse, Rude

word

失業

Meaning

Unemployment

word

失敗

Meaning

Failure

word

失望

Meaning

Disappointment

word

失恋

Meaning

Heartbreak

word

損失

Meaning

Loss

word

喪失

Meaning

Loss

Learn the Word 失う

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What does 'Ushinau' (失う) mean?

'Ushinau' means 'Lose' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.