負う

• Reading: おう
• Romaji: ou
• Kanji breakdown: 負 (fu/o) — bear, lose, owe
• Pronunciation: /oː/

Meaning

To bear; to owe; to take on (responsibility, injury, debt). Carrying a burden on oneself.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb conjugated with the う row. Used for bearing responsibility (責任を負う), sustaining injuries (傷を負う), owing a debt (借金を負う), and carrying something on one's back (子供を背に負う). Distinct from 追う (to chase). Often appears in formal or written contexts. The passive 負われる is rarely used; instead, patterns like 負わされる (to be made to bear) are common.

Examples

1. 事故で大きな傷を負ってしまった。 I ended up sustaining a serious injury in the accident.
2. このプロジェクトの責任は私が負う。 I will bear the responsibility for this project.
3. 会社は多額の借金を負っている。 The company is carrying a large amount of debt.

Usage Guide

Context: responsibility, legal, business

Tone: serious

Origin & History

The kanji 負 combines 貝 (shell, ancient currency) and a person bending under weight. Originally depicted carrying valuable goods on one's back — the weight of obligation.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal