損ねる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 損ねる is a transitive verb read そこねる; by itself it can mean to damage something, and after a verb stem it can mean to miss or fail to do that action.
• Basic usage: Use 信頼を損ねる for damaging trust and 返事をし損ねる for missing the chance to reply.
  • 不用意な一言が相手の信頼を損ねた。 describes one careless remark damaging another person's trust; 返事をし損ねて連絡が遅くなった。 describes being late getting in touch after failing to reply.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 信頼を損ねる
  • As an independent verb, it means to harm or impair the trust marked by を.
• し損ねる
  • Attached to the stem し, it means that the intended reply was missed or not completed.
• 損ねて
  • The て form connects the failed reply to the later delay in making contact.