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負け

まけ

defeat

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 負けを認めた。

    まけをみとめた。

    I admitted defeat.

  2. 今日の負けは悔しい。

    きょうのまけはくやしい。

    Today's loss is frustrating.

  3. 三連敗で、今年は負けが多い。

    さんれんぱいで、ことしはまけがおおい。

    With three straight losses, we have had a lot of defeats this year.

  4. 最後まで走ったのだから、負けでも胸を張っていい。

    さいごまではしったのだから、まけでもむねをはっていい。

    You ran to the end, so you can be proud even in defeat.

Common patterns

負けを認める
to admit defeat
負けが込む
to be on a losing streak
負け試合
a losing game

Memory tip

負け is the noun made from 負ける, so it names the loss itself, not the act of losing. 敗北 means the same but is stiff, newspaper-style; in conversation you say 負け. Note the fixed pair 勝ち負け "win or lose".

Kanji in this word

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What does 負け mean?