負う|おうou[0]heiban (flat)
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Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto carry on one's back; to bear; to shoulder
- godan verb, transitive verbto take (responsibility); to assume; to accept; to bear (the blame, costs, etc.); to have (a duty, obligation, etc.); to become responsible for; to be burdened with (work, debt, etc.)
- godan verb, transitive verbto suffer (an injury); to sustain (a wound); to receive; to incur (a loss, damage, etc.)
- godan verb, transitive verbto owe (a debt of gratitude to); to be indebted toas ...に負う
- godan verb, transitive verbto have (something) behind one; to be backed by
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 負う（おう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 負います（おいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 負わない（おわない） |
| polite (masen) | 負いません（おいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 負わず・負わぬ（おわず・おわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 負った（おった） |
| polite (mashita) | 負いました（おいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 負わなかった（おわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 負いませんでした（おいませんでした） |
| Te form | 負って（おって） |
| Potential | 負える（おえる） |
| Passive | 負われる（おわれる） |
| Causative | 負わせる（おわせる） |
| Causative passive | 負わせられる・負わされる（おわせられる・おわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 負えば（おえば） |
| tara | 負ったら（おったら） |
| Volitional | 負おう（おおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 負いましょう（おいましょう） |
| Imperative | 負え（おえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related負わせるNeutralCausative counterpart of 負う: to make someone carry a load or bear a duty, so the subject imposes the burden rather than bearing it. Neutral register.
Choose 負う when the subject bears or takes on a burden or responsibility itself; choose 負わせる, its causative antonym, when the subject makes another person bear that burden instead.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
