Japanese word

なくなる

Pronunciation

Romajinakunaru

Meaning

  • verbbe missing

Example

かばんがなくなりました。ka ba n ga na ku na ri ma shi ta

My bag is missing.

Illustration for なくなる (be missing)

More examples

私の消しゴムがなくなりました。watashi no ke shi go mu ga na ku na ri ma shi ta

My eraser is missing.

冷蔵庫の中の牛乳がなくなっています。rei zō ko no naka no gyū nyū ga na ku na tte i ma su

The milk in the refrigerator is gone.

Core concept

It expresses a change from being present or available to being absent, missing, or gone.

Common phrases

  • お金がなくなるo kane ga na ku na ru

    run out of money

  • 時間がなくなるji kan ga na ku na ru

    run out of time

  • 食べ物がなくなるta be mono ga na ku na ru

    food runs out

Similar words

なくすnakusu: To lose or misplace something so that it is no longer in one's possession.
消えるkieru: To disappear from sight or stop being visible or present.
切れるkireru: To run out or stop being available, often for supplies, power, or services.

Definition in Japanese

それまであった物や人、利用できたものが、消えたり尽きたりして、ない状態になること。so re ma de a tta mono ya hito ri yō de ki ta mo no ga ki e ta ri tsu ki ta ri shi te na i jō tai ni na ru ko to

Word origin

The native Japanese verb なくなる (nakunaru) is built from ない (nai, "not exist") in its なく (naku) form and なる (naru, "become"), meaning "become absent".

Usage tips

  • Unlike なくす (nakusu, "to lose"), なくなる (nakunaru) describes something becoming absent without stating who caused it.

Other meanings

  • disappearverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word