Japanese Conversation · Level 90
60 words
Japanese word
損
Pronunciation
Romajison
Meaning
- na-adjectiveunprofitable
Example
この仕事は損です。ko no shi goto wa son de su
This job is unprofitable.
More examples
安く見えても、送料が高いと損です。yasu ku mi e te mo sō ryō ga taka i to son de su
Even if it looks cheap, it is unprofitable when the shipping costs are high.
Core concept
Marks an outcome where the cost or effort outweighs the value gained.
Common phrases
損な買い物son na ka i mono
a poor purchase
損な投資son na tō shi
a bad investment
Similar words
不利furi: Describes a situation that gives someone a weaker position or fewer advantages.
不経済fukeizai: Describes spending or using money, time, or effort in a way that gives too little value in return.
無駄muda: Describes time, money, or effort that produces no useful benefit.
Definition in Japanese
かけた費用や労力に見合う利益が得られず、割に合わないさま。ka ke ta hi yō ya rō ryoku ni mi a u ri eki ga e ra re zu wari ni a wa na i sa ma
Word origin
The Sino-Japanese word 損 (son, "loss") uses the kanji 損, whose core sense is loss or damage and develops into the idea of getting too little value from what is spent.
Usage tips
- In everyday conversation, 損 (son) can describe a choice that wastes money, time, or effort, not only a financial loss.
Other meanings
- lossnoun
- disadvantagenoun
Opposites
- 有利yūriadvantageousna-adjective
Related words
- 損するsonsurulose outverb