損

• Reading: そん
• Romaji: son
• Kanji breakdown: 損 (son) — loss, damage, disadvantage
• Pronunciation: /soɴ/

Meaning

Loss; disadvantage; damage. Being on the losing end of a deal or situation.

Functions as a noun, na-adjective, and suru verb (損する, to lose out). Very common in daily conversation: 損をする (to suffer a loss), 損な役回り (a thankless role), 大損 (a big loss). Often contrasted with 得 (profit/advantage). The casual 損する is more colloquial than the formal 損失.

Examples

1. このセールを見逃したら損だよ。 You'd be missing out if you skip this sale.
2. 安いものを買って損をした経験がある。 I've had the experience of losing out by buying something cheap.
3. 早起きは三文の得、寝坊は損だ。 The early bird gets the worm, but sleeping in is a loss.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, daily life, business

Tone: practical

Origin & History

The kanji 損 combines 扌(hand radical) and 員 (member/round). Originally meant 'to diminish' or 'to decrease' — something slipping away from one's grasp.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal