Meaning and Usage
The verb 負う (おう) primarily means "to bear" or "to carry" something, often an abstract or physical burden such as responsibility, debt, or a load. It is commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts.
Common Contexts
- Responsibility: 負う is frequently used to express taking responsibility or liability for something, such as an accident or a duty.
- Debt or Obligation: It can indicate owing money or being under obligation.
- Physical Burden: It also describes carrying something heavy on the body, like a load on the shoulder.
Collocations and Patterns
- 責任を負う (せきにんをおう): to take responsibility
- 借金を負う (しゃっきんをおう): to owe debt
- 荷物を負う (にもつをおう): to carry luggage/load
Register and Usage Notes
負う is a somewhat formal verb and often appears in written or formal spoken Japanese, especially in business or legal contexts. In casual speech, other verbs like 持つ (もつ) or 担ぐ (かつぐ) might be used for physical carrying.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 負う with 持つ, but 負う implies a heavier or more serious burden, often abstract, while 持つ is more general for holding or having something.