Quick Reference

Meaning & Definition

負ける (makeru) is a verb that does double duty in Japanese: it means to lose or be defeated in a competition, and — in a twist that surprises many learners — it also means to knock down the price when shopping. Mastering both meanings opens up everything from sports talk to savvy bargain-hunting at Tokyo flea markets.

負ける has two distinct but related meanings rooted in the idea of ‘conceding.’ (1) To lose or be defeated: used after a contest, game, argument, or challenge. The subject is the one who loses — 試合に負ける (shiai ni makeru, to lose a match), 議論に負ける (giron ni makeru, to lose an argument). (2) To give a discount or reduce the price: in shopping contexts, a seller ‘yields’ on price. A buyer asks まけてもらえますか？ (Can you give me a discount?) or まけてください (Please lower the price). This usage is especially natural at フリマ (flea markets), 骨董市 (antique markets), and small 商店街 (shopping street) stalls. As an ichidan verb, it conjugates regularly: 負ける (dictionary form) → 負けた (maketa, lost/gave a discount) → 負けて (makete, losing / giving a discount) → 負けない (makenai, won’t lose / won’t discount). Note that 負ける is intransitive — to say you made someone else lose, use the transitive 負かす (makasu) instead.

How to Use It

The discount meaning catches many learners off guard — if you only know 負ける as ‘to lose,’ you might miss half of what a market vendor is saying. Practice the phrase まけてもらえますか？ before visiting a フリマ or 骨董市; it sounds natural and friendly rather than rude. Also remember the intransitive/transitive pair: 負ける (makeru) means ‘to lose’ (by oneself), while 負かす (makasu) means ‘to defeat’ (someone else). Mixing these up is a common learner error — 彼を負けた is incorrect; say 彼に負けた (I lost to him) or 彼を負かした (I defeated him).

Kanji Breakdown

負ける is written with the kanji 負 (read まける in this verb, or ふ in compounds). The character combines 人 (person) over 貝 (shell/money), evoking the image of a person burdened by a debt or carrying something heavy — a fitting origin for meanings of losing and owing. The same kanji appears in 負債 (fusai, debt/liability), 勝負 (shōbu, a contest or match), and 負担 (futan, burden/cost). Understanding 負 as ‘bearing a loss’ connects both meanings of 負ける: losing a competition and conceding on price.

Example Sentences

Cultural Context

In Japan, bargaining is not the norm at department stores or chain retailers, but it is fully expected at フリマ (flea markets), 骨董市 (antique fairs), and some 商店街 (local shopping street) stalls. Asking まけてください or まけてもらえますか？ is seen as a natural part of the transaction, not an insult to the seller. Vendors at these venues often price items with a small buffer precisely because they anticipate the request. Knowing when and where to use 負ける in the discount sense lets you participate in a casual, friendly micro-negotiation that is an authentic part of Japanese market culture.

The compound 負けず嫌い (makezugirai, literally ‘hating to lose’) captures a deeply valued personality trait in Japan: fierce competitive spirit and the refusal to concede defeat. It describes someone who pushes through setbacks not out of aggression, but out of personal pride and perseverance. This trait is frequently cited as a virtue in athletic contexts, academic settings, and even in business. The phrase is so culturally embedded that it appears in job interview self-introductions and school sports team mottos alike, reflecting how deeply 負ける — and the desire to avoid it — is woven into Japanese attitudes toward effort and resilience.

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