Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Lose" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "lose", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
なくす
なくす (nakusu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
痩せる
やせる (yaseru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "lose" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between なくす and 痩せる.
In Japanese, なくす (なくす (nakusu)) is typically associated with "to lose (something)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Transitive verb. Refers to misplacing an item, making it no longer available to oneself. （物を）見つけられなくする。.
On the other hand, 痩せる (やせる (yaseru)) maps to "to lose weight, to get thin" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Used to describe losing body weight or getting thin. It can be intentional. A literal translation of "lose" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "なくす"
財布をなくしてしまいました。
I lost my wallet.
Bilingual Context for "痩せる"
毎日運動して、少し痩せました。
I exercised every day and lost a little weight.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "財布をなくしてしまいました。" (Meaning: "I lost my wallet.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "なくす" fits here because it means "to lose (something)" in the context of: "I lost my wallet.". "痩せる" represents "to lose weight, to get thin".