失う
ushinau
to lose
鍵を失った
I lost my keys.
general
To lose something physically or metaphorically, such as an object, opportunity, or ability.
彼は仕事で大切な機会を失った
He lost an important opportunity at work.
彼女は記憶を失った
She lost her memory.
The verb is often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
'失う' is often used to express losing something important, whether tangible or intangible.
Gold Rule
Transitive vs. Intransitive
'失う' is intransitive, meaning it does not take a direct object. For transitive actions, use '失う' with 'を'.
Word Origin
Derived from the kanji '失' (to lose) and the verb ending 'う' (intransitive verb form).
Usage Notes
The verb is often used in both transitive and intransitive forms, but '失う' is specifically intransitive. For transitive actions, '失う' is often paired with 'を' (object marker).
Word Breakdown
失
to lose
rootう
intransitive verb ending
suffix和英辞典