Japanese

ける

まける
Meaning: to lose; to be defeated; to yield; to discount
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 負ける 負けない
Polite 負けます 負けません
Past 負けた 負けなかった
Polite + Past 負けました 負けませんでした
Te-form 負けて 負けなくて
Potential 負けられる 負けられない
Passive 負けられる 負けられない
Causative 負けさせる 負けさせない
Imperative 負けろ 負けるな

Example sentences

最後まで諦めずに戦ったが、試合に負けてしまった。
We fought without giving up until the end, but we lost the match.
雨にも負けない
Won't lose even to rain.
まさか彼が負けるとは思わなかった。
I never dreamed that he would lose.
期待が大きかっただけに、負けた時の悔しさは格別だった。
Because expectations were high, the regret when losing was exceptional.
あと少しのところで負けて、本当に悔しい。
I felt so frustrated losing by just a little bit.

Usage Notes

Commonly used for losing a game or conflict. It can also mean giving in to temptation or discounting a price.

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