Japanese

おう
Meaning: to bear; to carry on one's back; to owe
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 負う 負わない
Polite 負います 負いません
Past 負った 負わなかった
Polite + Past 負いました 負いませんでした
Te-form 負って 負わなくて
Potential 負える 負えない
Passive 負われる 負われない
Causative 負わせる 負わせない
Causative + Passive 負わされる 負わされない
Imperative 負え 負うな

Example sentences

彼はリーダーとしての責任を負っている。
He bears the responsibility as a leader.
私はその件について全責任を負う。
I take full responsibility for that matter.
階段から落ちて、大きなけがを負った。
I fell down the stairs and suffered a serious injury.
ストーブに触れて、手にひどい火傷を負った。
I touched the stove and suffered a severe burn on my hand.
事故で再起不能の重傷を負った。
He suffered a serious injury from which recovery is impossible due to the accident.

Usage Notes

Often used for abstract burdens like responsibility, duty, or debt, but also for physical carrying or injuries.

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