Japanese Conversation · Level 105
60 words
Japanese word
負
Pronunciation
Romajifu
Meaning
- nounnegative
Example
答えが負になりました。kota e ga fu ni na ri ma shi ta
The answer became negative.
More examples
温度が負になる地域もあります。on do ga fu ni na ru chi iki mo a ri ma su
In some regions, the temperature can become negative.
Core concept
It places a number below the neutral point of zero, indicating a value in the negative range.
Common phrases
負の数fu no kazu
negative number
負の値fu no atai
negative value
負の符号fu no fu gō
negative sign
Similar words
マイナスmainasu: A common spoken term for a value below zero.
Definition in Japanese
計算や数値が零より小さいこと。kei san ya sū chi ga rei yo ri chii sa i ko to
Word origin
負 (fu, "to bear; to lose") is a Sino-Japanese noun based on the Chinese character 負, which denotes bearing or defeat; Japanese uses the character in mathematics for a value below zero.
Usage tips
- Japanese mathematical writing uses 負 (fu) in formal descriptions, whereas マイナス (mainasu, "minus") is frequent in spoken explanations of the same numerical condition.
Other meanings
- minusnoun
Opposites
- 正tadashipositivenoun