しそこなう

also: しぞこなう

し

そ

こ

な

う

Meanings

1

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

fail to do; make a mistake in doing; miss doing

usually written using kana alone

Attaches to the continuative form of a verb to express failing to do that action, making a mistake in doing it, or missing the chance to do it. The action is typically intentional but the outcome is unsuccessful.

電でん車しゃに乗のりそこなった。
I missed the train (failed to catch it).
大だい

事じ

な

ところ

を

聞き

き

そこなっ

て

しまっ

た

。

I failed to catch the important part (of what was said).

Written forms

し損なう
- しそこなう
  Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling; the verb stem is written in kana and 損なう in kanji.
- しぞこなう
仕損なう
rarely-used kanji form
- しそこなう
  Rare kanji form using 仕 for the stem; usually written in kana.
- しぞこなう
為損なう
rarely-used kanji form
- しそこなう
  Rare kanji form using 為 for the stem; usually written in kana.
- しぞこなう
しぞこなう
Alternate reading with rendaku; less common.

Kanji

損damage, loss, disadvantage
仕attend, doing, official
為do, change, make

Similar words

し忘わすれる
し忘れる means to forget to do something, while し損なう implies a failure or mistake in the attempt itself.
し間ま違ちがえる
し間違える focuses on making an error in the action, whereas し損なう can also mean missing the opportunity to do it.

Etymology

Compound of the continuative form of する (to do) and 損なう (to damage, to fail). The verb 損なう adds the meaning of failure or mistake to the preceding verb.