Translation guide
How to express 'be beaten' in Japanese, covering physical defeat, emotional defeat, being struck, and idiomatic uses.
The speaker or subject loses a contest, match, or physical confrontation.
The most common and general verb for losing a game, match, or fight. Can be used for sports, arguments, battles, etc.
I lost in yesterday's game.
I was beaten by him at chess.
A more formal or literary term for being defeated, often used in news or writing. Implies a decisive loss.
The team was beaten in the finals.
A colloquial passive form meaning 'to be done in' or 'to get beaten'. Often used in casual speech for being defeated or overwhelmed.
I got beaten by that strong opponent.
A compound verb meaning 'to be utterly defeated' or 'to be beaten down'. Emphasizes being overpowered.
We were beaten by the enemy.
The subject receives blows or physical punishment.
Passive form of 殴る (to punch/hit). Specifically means being punched or beaten with fists.
I was beaten in the face by him.
I was beaten by a robber and injured.
Passive of 叩く (to hit/strike). Can refer to being hit with an object or slapped. Broader than 殴られる.
When I was a child, I was often beaten by my parents.
Passive of 打つ (to strike). Often used for being hit with a stick, whip, or in a more formal/abstract sense.
Slang expression meaning 'to be beaten up badly' or 'to get pummeled'. Very casual.
I got beaten up in a fight.
The subject feels overwhelmed, crushed, or defeated by circumstances or emotions.
Means 'to be knocked down' emotionally or mentally. Conveys being devastated by a setback.
I was beaten down by the news.
Literally 'one's heart breaks'. Means to lose spirit or give up after repeated failure. Common in casual contexts.
I was beaten by repeated failures.
To be frustrated or to suffer a setback. Often used for giving up on a goal due to difficulty.
He was beaten by his dream (i.e., gave up).
Someone else's performance or quality exceeds the subject's.
The subject is overwhelmed by rain, heat, or other elements.
Specifically losing in a race or being overtaken.
In English, 'beaten eggs' uses 'beaten', but in Japanese, use 溶き卵 (ときたまご) for beaten eggs, not 殴られた卵. The verb 溶く (とく) means to beat/mix.
負ける is the everyday word for losing. 敗れる is more formal and often used in writing or news. 負ける can be used for trivial things; 敗れる implies a more significant defeat.
I was beaten with a whip.
彼の才能には敵わない。
I am beaten by his talent (I can't compete).
Beaten by the heat, I turned on the air conditioner.