損そこなう

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

harm; damage; spoil; ruin

Transitive verb for damaging health, value, appearance, reputation, mood, or the proper condition of something. Often slightly more written or formal than everyday words like 傷つける or だめにする.

• 睡すい眠みん不ぶ足そくは健けん康こうを損そこなう。

  Lack of sleep harms your health.

• 急きゅうな開かい発はつで町まちの景けい観かんが損そこなわれた。

  The sudden development spoiled the townscape.

suffix, godan verb (-u)

fail to do; do badly; miss the chance to do

Only when written 損なう

Suffix-like use after the masu-stem of another verb, as in 食べ損なう or 押し損なう. It means that the intended action was not completed, was mishandled, or the opportunity was missed.

• 忙いそがしくて昼ひるご飯はんを食たべ損そこなった。

  I was so busy that I missed the chance to eat lunch.

• ボタンを押おし損そこなって、録ろく画ができなかった。

  I failed to press the button properly, so I couldn't record it.

suffix, godan verb (-u)

almost do; come close to doing

Only when written 損なう

Suffix-like use after a masu-stem for nearly ending up doing something, especially in fixed or limited expressions such as 死に損なう. Depending on context it can also sound rough, self-deprecating, or imply that an expected outcome failed to happen.

• あの事じ故こで私わたしは死しに損そこなった。

  I nearly died in that accident.