lose · bear

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is ふ, and the kun readings are まける, まかす, and おう. It has 9 strokes and relates to losing or bearing a burden, responsibility, or injury.
• Basic usage: 負ける is read まける, and 負う is read おう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 負ける / 負う
  • 負ける means lose or be defeated. It is an intransitive verb read まける. It means to lose or be defeated in a game or competition.
  • 弟はゲームに負けると、とても悔しがる。 means “My brother becomes very frustrated when he loses a game.”
  • 負う means to bear or to sustain. It is a transitive verb read おう. It means to bear responsibility or sustain an injury, rather than to lose a contest.
  • 事故の責任を一人だけに負わせるべきではない。 means “One person should not bear all responsibility for the accident.”