損なう・害う・損う|そこなうsokonau[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
損なう損なう（そこなう） is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it as the default when writing this word.
害う害う（そこなう） is a rarely used variant. Learners may encounter it, but should use 損なう（そこなう） instead when writing.
損う損う（そこなう） is a less common variant with irregular okurigana. Recognize it when encountered, but use 損なう（そこなう） when writing.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto harm; to hurt; to injure; to damage; to spoil; to mar; to ruin
- suffix, godan verbto fail to do; to do amiss; to miss one's opportunity to doafter the -masu stem of a verb
- suffix, godan verbto almost do; to come close to doingafter the -masu stem of a verb
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 損なう（そこなう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 損ないます（そこないます） |
| Negative (nai) | 損なわない（そこなわない） |
| polite (masen) | 損ないません（そこないません） |
| classical zu / nu | 損なわず・損なわぬ（そこなわず・そこなわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 損なった（そこなった） |
| polite (mashita) | 損ないました（そこないました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 損なわなかった（そこなわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 損ないませんでした（そこないませんでした） |
| Te form | 損なって（そこなって） |
| Potential | 損なえる（そこなえる） |
| Passive | 損なわれる（そこなわれる） |
| Causative | 損なわせる（そこなわせる） |
| Causative passive | 損なわせられる・損なわされる（そこなわせられる・そこなわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 損なえば（そこなえば） |
| tara | 損なったら（そこなったら） |
| Volitional | 損なおう（そこなおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 損ないましょう（そこないましょう） |
| Imperative | 損なえ（そこなえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym害するがいするWrittenWritten register. Covers harm to health or feelings, as in 「健康を害する」「気分を害する」, and can also mean killing. Near 「損なう」 in sense but more formal.
- Synonym損じるそんじるWrittenWritten register. Means to damage or impair, as in 「機嫌を損じる」; also a suffix marking a failed attempt, as in 「書き損じる」.
- Synonym損ねるそこねるNeutralNearly synonymous with 「損なう」 but more common in speech, as in 「機嫌を損ねる」; as a suffix it means failing to do something.
- Synonym壊すこわすNeutralMeans to break or destroy things; also said of the body, as in 「体を壊す」. 「損なう」 leans written and takes abstract objects like health, honor, interests.
- Synonym崩すくずすNeutralMeans to demolish or throw into disorder, as in 「体調を崩す」「バランスを崩す」; 「損なう」 centers on making value or condition worse.
- Synonym傷つけるきずつけるNeutralWounds bodies or objects and hurts feelings or pride; 「損なう」 is more written and typically concerns health, value, or relationships.
- Related弱めるよわめるNeutralMeans to weaken force or degree, as in 「火を弱める」; not necessarily bad, whereas 「損なう」 always implies damage.
- Related殺すころすNeutralMeans to kill, and figuratively to stifle talent or flavor, as in 「持ち味を殺す」; 「損なう」 is milder, leaving something impaired.
- Related潰すつぶすNeutralMeans to crush or flatten, ruin a company, or kill time, as in 「時間を潰す」; 「損なう」 focuses on impairing value or function.
- Related痛むいたむNeutralIntransitive: aches, or food and objects become damaged. 「損なう」 is transitive and means to damage something.
- Related毀損きそんWrittenFormal, often legal: destroying property or defaming honor, as in 「名誉毀損」. 「損なう」 is ordinary written usage.
- Related損傷そんしょうWrittenDamage to objects or the body, as in 「機体の損傷」; as a noun it leans concrete, while 「損なう」 covers abstract value.
- Related損害そんがいNeutralA noun for losses incurred, mostly money or property, as in 「損害賠償」; 「損なう」 is a verb and can cover health or honor.
- Related破壊はかいNeutralDestruction of buildings, systems, or the environment — heavier in degree; 「損なう」 merely leaves something impaired or worse.
- Related傷害しょうがいWrittenLegal term for bodily injury, as in 「傷害事件」; 「損なう」 is not specific to injury to the person.
- Related毒するどくするWrittenWritten register. Corrupts minds or morals, as in 「青少年を毒する」; 「損なう」 typically concerns health or value.
- Related害すがいすWrittenArchaic form of 「害する」, rare even in writing; say 「害する」 or 「損なう」 instead.
- RelatedそぐWrittenLiterally to shave off; figuratively damps will or enthusiasm, as in 「やる気を削ぐ」. 「損なう」 takes a wider range of objects.
- Related毀つこぼつWrittenArchaic word for destroying or damaging; in everyday use prefer 「壊す」 or 「損なう」.
- Relatedぶっ潰すぶっつぶすCasualColloquial and rough: smash to pieces or wreck completely. 「損なう」 is ordinary written-style damage.
For everyday breaking, use 「壊す」; for hurting someone's feelings, 「傷つける」. In written prose, use 「損なう」 or the more formal 「害する」 for damage to health, honor, or value; 「損ねる」 for offending someone; 「損害」 for financial loss. The other words here are narrower in object or register-marked — check their notes before substituting.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
