負かす
makasu[ma̠ka̠sɨ]
To defeat someone in Japanese is 負かす (makasu), meaning to beat an opponent in a battle or contest. If unsure, use 負かす. Wiktionary also lists やっつける (yattsukeru) and 倒す (taosu).
Meaning: to overcome in battle or contest (verb)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 負かす | makasu | [ma̠ka̠sɨ] (narrow) |
| やっつける | yattsukeru | [ja̠t̚t͡sɨ̥ke̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 倒す | taosu | [ta̠o̞sɨ] (narrow) |
負かす is used when you beat someone in a match, game or fight and make them lose.
Which one should you use?
負かす focuses on the result of a contest, making the opponent lose. 倒す (taosu) literally means to knock down and is common for beating enemies in video games or physical fights. やっつける (yattsukeru) is more colloquial and suggests finishing someone off, often in games or casual talk. The noun for a defeat is 敗北 or, more simply, 負け.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
負かす is transitive, you defeat someone. Its intransitive partner 負ける means to lose or be defeated.
Did you know?
- In Japanese sports culture, the word for defeat 負け is often paired with the concept of 悔しい (kuyashii), a feeling of frustration or regret that has no direct English equivalent.
- The verb 倒す can be used to describe defeating an opponent, but it also literally means to knock over a physical object like a vase or a chair.
- In traditional Japanese games like Go or Shogi, the act of defeating an opponent is often framed as 'making the other person lose' (負かす) rather than 'winning' (勝つ).
Examples in context
- エアーマンが倒せないI can't defeat Airman倒せない is the negative potential form of the verb for knock down, so the sentence means cannot defeat.
- おまえを徹底的に打ち負かすぞ。I'll completely defeat you!打ち負かす adds a prefix that makes the verb stronger, like beat completely.Tatoeba #5631941 by Yassan, translation #10565328 by auxitt
- 人々、そうこの世界を引き裂こうとしている者へ告ぐ、我々はお前たちを打ち負かす。To those to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you.This example also uses 打ち負かす, in a dramatic warning.Tatoeba #330791 by sugisaki, translation #330534 by sugisaki
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are playing a board game.
- 美咲 Misaki絶対にあなたを負かすからね。Zettai ni anata o makasu kara ne.I am definitely going to defeat you.
- 大翔 Hirotoふふん、僕に勝てるかな？Fufun, boku ni kateru kana?Heh, I wonder if you can beat me?
- 美咲 Misaki今度こそ負かして見せるわ！Kondo koso makashite miseru wa!I'll show you that I can defeat you this time!
- 大翔 Hirotoいいよ、受けて立つよ。Ii yo, ukete tatsu yo.Fine, I'm ready for the challenge.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “defeat” translations and entries 負かす, やっつける, 倒す, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
