Japanese word

失敗

Pronunciation

Romajishippai

Meaning

  • nounfailure, mistake

Example

試験に失敗しました。shi ken ni ship pai shi ma shi ta

I failed the test.

Illustration for 失敗 (failure)

More examples

その失敗を繰り返しません。so no ship pai o ku ri kae shi ma se n

I will not repeat that mistake.

仕事で失敗したときは、すぐに上司へ報告します。shi goto de ship pai shi ta to ki wa su gu ni jō shi e hō koku shi ma su

When I fail at work, I report it to my supervisor right away.

Core concept

Describes an effort that ends without achieving the result it was meant to produce.

Common phrases

  • 失敗を恐れるship pai o oso re ru

    fear failure

  • 失敗を繰り返すship pai o ku ri kae su

    repeat failures

  • 失敗から学ぶship pai ka ra mana bu

    learn from failure

Similar words

ミスmisu: An incorrect choice or action that leads to an unwanted result.
間違いmachigai: An incorrect act or choice that causes a problem.

Definition in Japanese

試みや計画が、望んだ結果に至らないこと。kokoro mi ya kei kaku ga nozo n da kek ka ni ita ra na i ko to

Word origin

失敗 (shippai) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 失 (shitsu, "loss") and 敗 (hai, "defeat"), linking an unsuccessful outcome with defeat.

Usage tips

  • In English, failure can refer to the result of an unsuccessful attempt, whereas mistake more often refers to the incorrect act that causes a problem.

Opposites

Related words

  • 失敗者shippaishaperson who failednoun

Word lists with this word