Japanese

うしなう
Meaning: to lose; to part with
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

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

Example sentences

彼は職を失い、自信も失った。
He lost his job and also lost his self-confidence.
火事で何もかも失った。
Everything was lost in the fire.
不幸な出来事が重なって、彼は元気をなくした。
Unfortunate events overlapped, and he lost his spirit.
家を火事で失うなんて、本当にお気の毒な話だ。
Losing one's house in a fire is a truly pitiful story.
獲物は逃げ場を失い、猟師に捕まった。
The prey lost its escape route and was caught by the hunter.

Usage Notes

Used for losing physical objects, abstract things like status or trust, or bereavement.

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