負おう

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

carry on one's back; bear; shoulder

Physical use: to carry or bear a person or load on one's back or shoulders. The related verb 背負う is often more everyday for literally carrying something on the back.

• 父ちちは幼おさない子こを背せに負おって山やま道みちを歩あるいた。

  The father walked along the mountain path carrying the small child on his back.

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

take responsibility for; assume; bear a burden; be burdened with

Abstract use for taking on or being saddled with responsibility, duties, costs, debts, work, or other burdens. Common collocations include 責任を負う, 義務を負う, and 負債を負う.

• 彼かれは事じ故この責せき任にんを負おった。

  He took responsibility for the accident.

• 会かい社しゃは多た額がくの負ふ債さいを負おっている。

  The company is burdened with a large amount of debt.

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

suffer an injury; sustain damage; incur a loss

Used for receiving or suffering something harmful, especially wounds, injuries, losses, or damage. Common in somewhat formal collocations such as 重傷を負う and 損害を負う.

• 彼かれは事じ故こで重じゅう傷しょうを負おった。

  He suffered serious injuries in the accident.

• その店みせは火か事じで大おおきな損そん害がいを負おった。

  The shop sustained major damage in the fire.

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

owe; be indebted to

Used in the construction ...に負う, often in set phrases such as に負うところが大きい, meaning that one's success, benefit, or existence owes much to someone or something.

• この成せい功こうは多おおくの協きょう力りょく者しゃに負おうところが大おおきい。

  This success owes a great deal to the many people who helped.

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

have behind one; be backed by

Written or descriptive use for a place or object having something such as a mountain behind it, as if carrying it at its back. Often appears in landscape descriptions like 山を負い.

• その町まちは北きたに山やまを負おい、南みなみに海うみを望のぞむ。

  The town has mountains behind it to the north and looks out over the sea to the south.