N1 Completion and Continuation

~損そこなう / ~損そこねる: meaning, usage and examples

~損そこなう / ~損そこねる means: to fail to... / to miss the chance to...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 寝坊ねぼうして、いつもの電車でんしゃに乗のり損そこねた。

   I overslept and missed my usual train.

2. 締しめ切きりを勘違かんちがいして、奨学しょうがく金きんの申もうし込こみをし損そこなった。

   I got the deadline wrong and missed my chance to apply for the scholarship.

3. 忙いそがしくて、話題わだいの映画えいがを見み損そこねてしまった。

   I was so busy that I missed the movie everyone was talking about.

4. 最後さいごの問題もんだいを解とき損そこなって、満点まんてんを逃のがした。

   I failed to solve the last problem and missed out on a perfect score.

When to use it

Means failing to do something you meant or had a chance to do: missing a train, a show or a target. Example: 「最終さいしゅう電車でんしゃに乗のり損そこねた」. A related use: 死しに損そこなう (to fail to die, to survive a brush with death). The two forms mean the same thing.

Nuance

Neutral, used in speech and writing. 損そこねる is a little more common in speech, 損そこなう a little more written. Carries mild regret. Mostly used for actions the subject wanted to do and failed at, often by bad luck or a mistake.

Compare

そびれる means missing a chance because the moment passed: 言いいそびれる (never got around to saying). 損そこなう is failing at the attempt itself: 言いい損そこなう (failed to say it or said it wrong). 逃のがす is about missing an opportunity: チャンスを逃のがす.

Tip: Watch the set phrase 見損みそこなった: it also means "I misjudged you" about a person. Context tells which meaning is meant.