1.
loser; defeated person
A person who has lost or failed, used as a derogatory label. Literally 'defeated dog.'
負け犬の遠吠え。
Sour grapes. (Literally: the howling of a defeated dog.)
彼は負け犬と呼ばれるのが嫌で、必死に努力した。
He worked desperately because he hated being called a loser.
周りから負け犬扱いされても、自分の信じる道を歩き続けた。
Even though treated as a loser by those around him, he kept walking the path he believed in.
2.
underdog; person looked down upon
A person in a disadvantaged or inferior position, especially one who is mocked or dismissed by others.
負け犬が最後に逆転する物語は人気がある。
Stories where the underdog makes a comeback at the end are popular.
いつも負け犬と思われていたチームが優勝して、大きな話題になった。
The team that was always seen as the underdog won the championship and became big news.
負け犬だった選手が何年もかけて実力をつけ、ついに世界大会で金メダルを獲得した。
The athlete who had been an underdog spent years building up their skills and finally won a gold medal at the world championship.
負け犬 literally means "defeated dog." It is a derogatory term used to label someone as a loser or failure.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 負け犬の遠吠え (sour grapes; literally "howling of a defeated dog")
- 負け犬根性 (loser mentality)
The proverb 負け犬の遠吠え describes someone who complains or boasts from a safe distance after losing, similar to the English expression "sour grapes." This is one of the most well-known uses of the word.
In the 2000s, the term gained a secondary usage to describe unmarried women over 30 without children, popularized by a bestselling book. This usage was controversial and is now considered outdated.