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参った (まいった) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

まいった

Meanings

1

interjection

I'm beaten; I give up; you got me

usually written using kana alone

An exclamation of defeat, surrender, or exasperation. Used when one is outmatched, stumped, or overwhelmed. Often said with a sigh or laugh.

See also: 参る

参まいった、また負まけた。
I give up, I lost again.
この問もん題だいは難むずかしすぎる。参まいったなあ。
This problem is too hard. You got me.

Kanji

参nonplussed, three (in documents), going

Similar words

参まいる
参る is the humble verb meaning 'to go' or 'to come', but also has a sense of 'to be defeated' or 'to be troubled'. 参った is the past tense used as an interjection.

Etymology

Past tense of 参る (まいる), originally a humble verb for 'to go/come', which developed a sense of 'to be defeated' or 'to be at a loss'. The past form 参った became a fixed interjection expressing surrender or exasperation.