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.
父は幼い子を背に負って山道を歩いた。
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.
彼は事故の責任を負った。
He took responsibility for the accident.
会社は多額の負債を負っている。
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.
彼は事故で重傷を負った。
He suffered serious injuries in the accident.
その店は火事で大きな損害を負った。
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.
この成功は多くの協力者に負うところが大きい。
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.
その町は北に山を負い、南に海を望む。
The town has mountains behind it to the north and looks out over the sea to the south.