JLPT N3 · Japanese kanji
負 — defeat
- Reading
- フ・ま.ける・ま.かす・お.う
- Meaning
- defeat; negative; -; minus; bear; owe; assume a responsibility
- JLPT level
- N3
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
負 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N3 level. Its primary reading is フ・ま.ける・ま.かす・お.う and it means defeat; negative; -; minus; bear; owe; assume a responsibility. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
負 appears in everyday japanese words such as 負う (to bear), 負債 (debt) and 負傷 (injury).
Japanese words containing 負
Frequently asked questions
What does 負 mean in Japanese?
負 means defeat; negative; -; minus; bear; owe; assume a responsibility in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N3 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 負 read?
負 is read フ・ま.ける・ま.かす・お.う. Reading it inside real words — 負う and 負債 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 負 — is it JLPT N3?
Yes. 負 is on the official JLPT N3 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 負 in a word?
A common word containing 負 is 負う (おう) — "to bear". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 負 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 負 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More JLPT N3 kanji
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