Japanese symbol for “lose”
失う
うしなう
Romaji: ushinau
to lose
In Japanese, lose is 失う, read うしなう (ushinau).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v5u, vt to lose
- v5u, vt to miss (a chance, opportunity)
- v5u, vt to lose (a loved one); to be bereaved of
- v5u, vt to concede (goals, points, etc.)
Written forms: 失う、喪う、失なう、亡う. Readings: うしなう.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “lose”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 負ける | まける makeru | to lose; to be defeated; to be beaten |
| 落とす | おとす otosu | to drop; to lose; to let fall |
| 損する | そんする sonsuru | to lose (money, etc.); to suffer a loss; to miss (e.g. an opportunity) |
| 逃す | のがす nogasu | to miss (e.g. a chance); to lose; to let get away |
| 無くす | なくす nakusu | to lose (something) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 失敗 | しっぱい shippai | failure; mistake; blunder |
| 損失 | そんしつ sonshitsu | loss (of assets, profit, etc.) |
| 失業 | しつぎょう shitsugyou | unemployment |
| 失礼 | しつれい shitsurei | discourtesy; impoliteness |
| 喪失 | そうしつ soushitsu | loss; forfeit |
See also: Chinese symbol for “lose”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.