損をする

そんをする
expression
to lose out; to be worse off; to take a loss
moneyevaluation
1. to lose out; to be worse off; to take a loss
To end up worse off than one otherwise would — paying more, wasting effort, or missing an advantage. The direct opposite of 得(とく)をする.
知(し)らないと損(そん)をする。
You lose out if you don't know about it.
慌(あわ)てて売(う)ったので十万円(じゅうまんえん)損(そん)をした。
I sold in a hurry and lost a hundred thousand yen.
断(ことわ)りきれない性格(せいかく)で、いつも自分(じぶん)が損(そん)をしている気(き)がする。
I can never say no, and I always feel like I'm the one losing out.
短期的(たんきてき)には損(そん)をしても、信用(しんよう)を守(まも)ったほうが長(なが)い目(め)で見(み)れば有利(ゆうり)だ。
Even if you take a loss in the short term, protecting your credibility pays off in the long run.

The loss is often financial, but the phrase covers any disadvantage — wasted time, unfair treatment, or a missed opportunity. 損(そん) also works as a na-adjective (損(そん)な役回(やくまわ)り, a thankless role).

Common patterns

  • ...ないと損(そん)をする: you lose out if you don't ...
  • 損(そん)をした気分(きぶん): the feeling of having been shortchanged
  • 損(そん)して得(とく)取(と)れ: take a small loss to win a bigger gain (proverb)

Similar words

Related Words

Antonym: 得をする (to come out ahead)
Related: 損 (loss; disadvantage)
general
Added 2026.7.29 12:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
30000/30214_sonwosuru