負ける|まけるmakeru[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto lose; to be defeated; to be beatenocc. written as 敗ける３対０で彼には負けています。↗He's beating me, three to zip.
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto give in (to); to yield; to succumb; to give way; to surrender; to be overcome (with)
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be inferior (to); to be second (to); to be outdone (by)
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto get a rash (from); to come out in a rash
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto reduce the price; to give a discount; to throw in (something extra) for free
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 負ける（まける） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 負けます（まけます） |
| Negative (nai) | 負けない（まけない） |
| polite (masen) | 負けません（まけません） |
| classical zu / nu | 負けず・負けぬ（まけず・まけぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 負けた（まけた） |
| polite (mashita) | 負けました（まけました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 負けなかった（まけなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 負けませんでした（まけませんでした） |
| Te form | 負けて（まけて） |
| Potential | 負けられる（まけられる） |
| Passive | 負けられる（まけられる） |
| Causative | 負けさせる（まけさせる） |
| Causative passive | 負けさせられる（まけさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 負ければ（まければ） |
| tara | 負けたら（まけたら） |
| Volitional | 負けよう（まけよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 負けましょう（まけましょう） |
| Imperative | 負けろ（まけろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
チームが負ける
負ける is intransitive and focuses on the side that loses, as in チームが負ける; 負かす is transitive and focuses on an agent defeating an opponent, as in 監督が相手チームを負かす.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym敗れるやぶれるWrittenWritten register: being defeated in a match or war, as in 「決勝で敗れる」. More formal in tone than 「負ける」.
- Synonym敗北はいぼくFormalFormal: a Sino-Japanese noun for defeat, as in 「敗北を喫する」; leans toward news reports and formal writing.
- Antonym勝つかつNeutralNeutral. The direct opposite of 「負ける」: to win, as in 「試合に勝つ」; centers on the win-or-lose outcome.
- Antonym勝るまさるWrittenWritten register. Opposite of the 'be inferior' sense of 「負ける」: to surpass or excel, as in 「実力で勝る」.
Losing is 「負ける」 by default. In written prose prefer 「敗れる」, and use the formal noun 「敗北」 in reports. The opposite, winning, is 「勝つ」; to surpass someone is 「勝る」.
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
