負(お)う

おう
verb (godan)
to bear, to owe, to sustain
1. to bear, to carry on one's back
To carry something on the back.
荷物(にもつ)を背(せ)に負(お)う。
To carry luggage on one's back.
子(こ)を負(お)って歩(ある)く。
To walk carrying a child on one's back.
重荷(おもに)を負(お)って生(い)きる。
To live carrying a heavy burden.
2. to bear (responsibility), to owe
To have responsibility or debt.
責任(せきにん)を負(お)う。
To bear responsibility.
借金(しゃっきん)を負(お)っている。
I'm in debt.
会社(かいしゃ)は大(おお)きな損失(そんしつ)を負(お)った。
The company incurred a large loss.
3. to sustain (injury)
To receive an injury.
怪我(けが)を負(お)った。
I sustained an injury.
事故(じこ)で重傷(じゅうしょう)を負(お)った。
I sustained serious injuries in the accident.
戦争(せんそう)で多(おお)くの兵士(へいし)が傷(きず)を負(お)った。
Many soldiers were wounded in the war.

負(お)う is a godan verb meaning to bear, owe, or sustain (injury).

TRANSITIVITY:

  • Type: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive)
  • Takes を particle for the thing being borne

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 責任(せきにん)を負(お)う: to bear responsibility
  • 怪我(けが)を負(お)う: to sustain an injury
  • 借金(しゃっきん)を負(お)う: to be in debt
  • 重荷(おもに)を負(お)う: to bear a burden

HOMOPHONES:

  • 負(お)う: to bear, owe (負(ふ) = lose/bear)
  • 追(お)う: to chase, pursue (追(つい) = chase)
  • 覆(お)う: to cover (覆(ふく) = cover)
general
Added 2026.1.9 21:10 · Revised 2026.2.21 13:07
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