負

defeat, lose

JLPT N3 Grade 3 9 strokes

Kun'yomi: ま.ける・ま.かす・お.う
On'yomi: フ
Radical: 貝 · shell (shell, money)

負 means "defeat, lose". It is a JLPT N3 kanji written in 9 strokes. It is read ま.ける・ま.かす・お.う in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and フ in compounds (on'yomi). Japanese schoolchildren learn it in grade 3.

負 in example sentences

負まけない！

Makenai!

I won't lose!
負まけるな。

Makeru na.

Don't give in.
私わたしの負まけだ。

Watashi no make da.

I give in.

Example sentences from the Tatoeba Project, licensed CC-BY 2.0 FR.

Stroke order & writing

Want more? Practice writing from memory. Stroke-order and animation sources are on our credits page.

Words that use 負

More 貝 (shell) kanji

Common questions

What does the kanji 負 mean?: 負 means "defeat, lose". It is a JLPT N3 kanji.
How many strokes does 負 have?: 負 is written in 9 strokes.
How is 負 read?: It is read ま.ける・ま.かす・お.う in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and フ in compounds (on'yomi).
What JLPT level is 負?: 負 is a JLPT N3 kanji.

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