Japanese word

なくす

Pronunciation

Romajinakusu

Meaning

  • verblose

Example

私はよく傘をなくします。watashi wa yo ku kasa o na ku shi ma su

I often lose my umbrella.

Illustration for なくす (lose)

More examples

学校で水筒をなくします。gak kō de sui tō o na ku shi ma su

I lose my water bottle at school.

切符をなくしたら、駅員さんに知らせてください。kippu o na ku shi ta ra eki in sa n ni shi ra se te ku da sa i

Please tell the station staff if you lose your ticket.

Core concept

Describes causing an object, possession, or unwanted thing to cease being present or available.

Common phrases

  • 鍵をなくすkagi o na ku su

    lose one's keys

  • 財布をなくすsai fu o na ku su

    lose one's wallet

  • 携帯電話をなくすkei tai den wa o na ku su

    lose one's cell phone

Similar words

失うushinau: To lose something valuable, important, or necessary so that it is no longer available.
紛失するfunshitsusuru: To misplace a possession and become unable to find it.
落とすotosu: To lose an object by dropping it or letting it slip from one's possession.
見失うmiushinau: To lose track of a person or thing after it leaves one's sight.

Definition in Japanese

物を失ったり、不要な物を処分したりして、存在しない状態にすること。mono o ushina tta ri fu yō na mono o sho bun shi ta ri shi te son zai shi na i jō tai ni su ru ko to

Word origin

The Japanese verb なくす (nakusu) comes from 無い (nai, "not exist") in its なく (naku) form plus す (su), a suffix with the sense "make absent".

Usage tips

  • The contrast between なくす (nakusu) and なくなる (nakunaru) helps show whether a person causes something to disappear or it simply becomes absent.

Other meanings

  • get rid ofverb
  • misplaceverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word