Chinese word

失败

Pronunciation

Pinyinshī bài

Meaning

  • verbfail

Example

我失败了。wǒ shī bài le

I failed.

Illustration for 失败 (fail)

More examples

这次实验失败了，我们需要总结教训再做一次。zhè cì shí yàn shī bài le wǒ men xū yào zǒng jié jiào xùn zài zuò yí cì

The experiment failed this time, so we need to learn from it and do it again.

Core concept

A path toward a goal breaks before the hoped-for result appears.

Common phrases

  • 失败了shī bài le

    failed

  • 失败过shī bài guò

    have failed before

  • 已经失败了yǐ jīng shī bài le

    has already failed

Similar words

没有成功méi yǒu chéng gōng: Not achieve an expected result or goal.
输shū: Lose in a competition or match against an opponent.
错过cuò guò: Miss an opportunity or the right time to achieve a desired result.

Definition in Chinese

行动、计划或努力未达到预期效果而告终，即没有成功。xíng dòng jì huà huò nǔ lì wèi dá dào yù qī xiào guǒ ér gào zhōng jí méi yǒu chéng gōng

Word origin

失 (shī, "lose") marks what is not attained, while 败 (bài, "be defeated") marks the unsuccessful outcome, linking a missed goal with a failed attempt.

Usage tips

  • When reporting an unsuccessful attempt in conversation, a neutral phrase such as "it did not work out" often sounds less severe than naming the result directly.

Other meanings

  • failurenoun
  • unsuccessfuladjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 失败感shī bài gǎnfeeling of failurenoun
  • 失败者shī bài zhěperson who failednoun

Word lists with this word