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道Nihongo Path

Word 2080 of 4449

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負う

おう

to bear (a burden, responsibility); to suffer (an injury); to owe (a debt, a debt of gratitude)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 彼は致命傷を負った。

    かれはちめいしょうをおった。

    He suffered a fatal wound.

  2. 責任は私が負います。

    せきにんはわたしがおいます。

    I will take responsibility.

  3. 彼の成功は、多くを家族の支えに負っている。

    かれのせいこうは、おおくをかぞくのささえにおっている。

    His success owes a great deal to his family's support.

Common patterns

責任を負う
to bear responsibility
傷を負う
to be wounded
借金を負う
to be saddled with debt

Memory tip

背負う is carrying something literally on your back; 負う is mostly abstract — responsibility, debt, injury. Note the 〜に負う pattern meaning "owe to", and the set phrase 名に負う ("worthy of the name").

Kanji in this word

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does 負う mean?