Meaning

Primary

To Lose

Alternative

To Be Defeated

Word Type

intransitive verb, ichidan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means lose so the verb vocab version means to lose.

Reading

まける
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

You lose your tournament/soccer game/whatever (you decide something applicable to you). You're sad about this. Who's there to comfort you? Your Ma (). She's a nice lady.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • プレーオフで負ける

    to lose in the playoffs

    2対0で負ける

    to lose two to zero

    じゃんけんで負ける

    to lose at rock-paper-scissors

Context Sentences

兄は、いつも負けることを不安に思っています。

My brother is always worried about losing.

体は負けても、心は負けないで。

Even if you lose with your body, don't lose with your heart.

「今夜は、どこのレストランにする?」「あなたが決めてよ。私はじゃんけんに負けたんだから。」

"Where do you want to eat tonight?" "It’s your call. I lost in rock-paper-scissors."

Kanji Composition