Translation guide
The English verb "lose" covers many situations: misplacing objects, being defeated, failing to keep something, and more. Japanese uses different words depending on what is lost and how.
To be unable to find something you had.
The most common and general verb for losing a physical object. Transitive.
財布をなくした。
I lost my wallet.
鍵をなくしてしまった。
I've lost my keys.
More formal/literary. Often used for abstract things or when the loss is permanent. Can sound dramatic for small items.
大切な書類を失った。
I lost important documents.
Literally 'drop'. Used when you lose something by dropping it, or for losing data/connection.
駅で定期を落とした。
I dropped (and lost) my commuter pass at the station.
To not win; to be beaten by an opponent.
The standard verb for losing a match, game, or contest. Intransitive.
昨日の試合に負けた。
We lost yesterday's game.
じゃんけんで負けた。
I lost at rock-paper-scissors.
Formal/literary equivalent of 負ける. Common in news reports.
To no longer have something you once had (job, money, ability, etc.).
To reduce body weight.
Intransitive; literally 'body weight decreases'. The most natural way to say you lost weight.
最近体重が減った。
I've lost weight recently.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to become thin/slim'. Focuses on the result.
彼はだいぶ痩せた。
He lost a lot of weight.
Transitive; literally 'drop body weight'. Often used when making an effort.
あと3キロ体重を落としたい。
I want to lose another 3 kilos.
To not know where you are or which way to go.
Standard phrase for getting lost while traveling.
山で道に迷った。
I got lost in the mountains.
Specifically for a child (or pet) getting lost/separated from parents.
デパートで迷子になった。
I got lost in the department store. (child speaking)
To use time unproductively or let it pass without achieving something.
Literally 'make time wasted'. The most direct translation.
渋滞で時間を無駄にした。
I lost time due to the traffic jam.
Loanword from English 'loss'. Common in business or casual contexts.
そのミスで1時間ロスした。
We lost an hour because of that mistake.
To have someone die.
Specifically for losing a family member or close person to death. Transitive.
彼は幼い頃に父親を亡くした。
He lost his father when he was young.
Also used for death, but broader. Can sound more literary.
To become angry or lose composure.
Simply 'get angry'. Not a direct translation of 'lose', but the most natural equivalent.
彼はすぐ怒る。
He loses his temper easily.
Slang for snapping or losing it. Implies sudden, explosive anger.
あの人はすぐキレる。
That person loses it easily.
Literally 'lose calmness'. Formal and descriptive.
彼は冷静さを失った。
He lost his cool.
Both can mean 'lose', but なくす is more common for physical objects and casual abstract loss (やる気をなくす). 失う is more formal and often implies a deeper or permanent loss (信頼を失う). For death of a family member, use 亡くす (also read なくす).
負ける (makeru) only means 'lose' in the sense of being defeated. Saying 財布に負けた would mean 'I lost to my wallet', not 'I lost my wallet'.
携帯をなくした。
I lost my phone.
試合に3対0で負けた。
We lost the game 3-0.
彼女は仕事を失った。
She lost her job.
体重が5キロ減った。
I lost 5 kg.
街で道に迷った。
I got lost in the city.
チームは決勝で敗れた。
The team lost in the finals.
戦争で多くの命が失われた。
Many lives were lost in the war.