損なう / 損ねる /損じる
🃏 Flashcard
損なう / 損ねる /損じる
sokonau / sokoneru/ sonjiru
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to fail to; miss a chance
N1
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
sokonau / sokoneru/ sonjiru
Post ID
51360
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
to fail to; miss a chance
📖 How to use it
Expresses failing to do something or missing the chance to do it, often with a sense of regret.
Attaches to
Attach to the ます-stem (連用形) of a verb. For example, 見る (mi-) + 損なう → 見損なう, 行く (iki-) + 損ねる → 行き損ねる, 言う (ii-) + 損じる → 言い損じる.
These compound verbs mean that the action was not successfully carried out or the opportunity was missed. They often carry a nuance of regret or disappointment. The three forms are roughly synonymous, but 損なう and 損ねる are more common in modern usage, while 損じる sounds slightly more literary or formal. In everyday conversation, you might hear 損なう or 損ねる, but 損じる appears more in written Japanese or set phrases like 気分を損じる (to offend someone, literally 'to harm feelings').
せっかくの休みなのに、電車に乗り損ねて一日台無しにした。
Sekkaku no yasumi na no ni, densha ni norisokonete ichinichi dainashi ni shita.
It was a rare day off, but I missed the train and ruined the whole day.
彼女は大事な話を言い損ねて、後で後悔した。
Kanojo wa daiji na hanashi o iisokonete, ato de kōkai shita.
She failed to say what was important and regretted it later.
チャンスを逃したくないなら、すぐに申し込むべきだ。
Chansu o nogashitakunai nara, sugu ni mōshikomu beki da.
If you don't want to miss the chance, you should apply right away.
Not 忘れる (wasureru) as in 見忘れる? Actually, more likely 損をする (sokonau as in to harm) or 逃す (nogasu). The pattern -損なう is often confused with 〜損ねる vs 〜逃す, but the key difference is that -損なう/-損ねる/-損じる imply a failure to do the action itself, often due to a mistake or timing, whereas 逃す implies letting an opportunity pass, often used with チャンス or 機会. For example, 見逃す means 'to miss seeing (something)', but 見損なう also means to misjudge or fail to see properly—so context matters.
For 〜損なう, the focus is on the action not being completed or the attempt failing. For 逃す, the focus is on the opportunity itself being lost. Use 逃す with nouns like チャンス, 機会, 電車 (as in 電車を逃す). With -損なう, you can use a wider range of verbs, and it often implies personal fault.
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These forms are used in both written and spoken Japanese; 損じる is more formal/literary, while 損なう and 損ねる are common in everyday speech.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
損なう / 損ねる /損じる
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat 損なう / 損ねる /損じる three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using 損なう / 損ねる /損じる. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern 損なう / 損ねる /損じる mean?
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To fail to; miss a chance
What JLPT level is 損なう / 損ねる /損じる?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use 損なう / 損ねる /損じる in a sentence?
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Attach 損なう / 損ねる /損じる (sokonau / sokoneru/ sonjiru) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is 損なう / 損ねる /損じる formal or casual Japanese?
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損なう / 損ねる /損じる is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember 損なう / 損ねる /損じる long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.