JLPT N3 · 9 strokes
Kanji 負: "defeat, negative, -"
The kanji 負 means "defeat, negative, -, minus, bear, owe". It is written with 9 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N3, read フ in on'yomi and ま.ける, ま.かす, お.う in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
フ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
ま.けるま.かすお.う
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | defeat, negative, -, minus, bear, owe |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT level | N3 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 3 |
| Frequency rank | 443 of 2,501 |
Common words with 負
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 負けるto lose; to be defeated; to be beaten · to give in (to); to yield; to succumb; to give way
- 勝負victory or defeat · match; contest; game; bout
- 背負うto carry on one's back · to be burdened with; to take responsibility for
- 負うto carry on one's back; to bear; to shoulder · to take (responsibility); to assume; to accept; to bear (the blame, costs, etc.)
- 負担burden; load; responsibility · bearing (a cost, responsibility, etc.); shouldering
- 負けdefeat; loss; losing (a game) · failing to live up to (one's name, looks, etc.)
- お負けにen plus, par-dessus le marché, pour ne rien arranger
- 負傷injury; wound
- 自負pride; self-confidence; thinking highly of oneself; being proud of one's abilities or achievements
- 負negative; minus
- 傷を負うto be injured; to sustain a wound
- お負けsomething thrown in (with a purchase); something extra; free gift; freebie · (giving a) discount; price reduction
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