How to say "defeat" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 負けまけnounThe noun for losing: the fact of having lost a game, match or contest, seen from the loser's side. Use it when talking about a loss or defeat in a competition.
- 敗北はいぼくnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbA noun for defeat as an event or result, such as a defeat in battle, a competition or an election; it can also mean a reverse or setback.
- 敗戦はいせんnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbDefeat in war: the losing of a war or a battle, from the side that lost. This is the word for a nation's or army's defeat, not for losing a game or match.
- 打ち勝つうちかつgodan verb, intransitive verbA verb: to defeat or conquer an opponent, to prevail over them. Use it for the act of beating an enemy or rival rather than for the defeat as a result.
- 打ち破るうちやぶるgodan verb, transitive verbA verb: to break or smash something, and by extension to defeat or destroy an opponent, with a forceful image of smashing through them. Suits describing the crushing of a powerful rival.
For the noun: 「負け」 is losing a game, 敗北 is defeat as an outcome or setback, and 敗戦 is losing a war; for the verb: 「打ち勝つ」 is to conquer an opponent, and 「打ち破る」 to defeat one forcefully.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 負けまけdefeat
- 敗北はいぼくdefeat
- 敗戦はいせんdefeat
- 打ち勝つうちかつto conquer (e.g. an enemy)
- 打ち破るうちやぶるto break
- 打倒だとうoverthrow
- 負かすまかすto defeat
- 討つうつto attack
- 敗はいloss
- 打ち負かすうちまかすto defeat
- 敗軍はいぐんdefeat
- 敗亡はいぼうdefeat (in battle)
- 敗るやぶるto defeat
- 土をつけるつちをつけるto defeat
- 不覚ふかくfailure
- 蹴落とすけおとすto kick down
- 打ち倒すうちたおすto knock down
- 打ち崩すうちくずすto break down (an opponent's defenses)
- 敗れやぶれloss
- いてまうto beat
- 裏をかくうらをかくto outwit
- 倒すたおすto kill
- 破るやぶるto defeat
- 打ち取るうちとるto defeat (an opponent)
- 落とすおとすto lose (a match)
- なぎ倒すなぎたおすto defeat
- 一本取るいっぽんとるto one-up (someone)
- 退けるしりぞけるto repel
- 下すくだすto beat
See also
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