Meanings of 敗
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About 敗
Podcast: 敗
Podcast: 敗
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AI Study Notes for 敗
败 (bài) vs 输 (shū): Use 敗 (bài) for a broader sense of failure or defeat, while 输 (shū) specifically refers to losing in a competition or game.
Be cautious not to confuse 敗 (bài) with other similar-sounding words. It is more formal and often used in literary or serious contexts. Common collocations include 敗北 (bàiběi, to be defeated) and 失敗 (shībài, to fail), which can create confusion for learners if not distinguished properly.
As 敗 (bài) is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on its usage in phrases and common expressions. It connects to other words associated with failure or defeat, such as 失败 (shībài) and 败北 (bàiběi), which are useful for discussing setbacks.
Learners often confuse 敗 (bài) with similar-sounding words like 拜 (bài), which means 'to pay respects.' For example, saying '我败了' (wǒ bài le) to mean 'I paid respects' is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我拜了' (wǒ bài le).
Pronunciation of 敗
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Etymology of 敗
Phonosemantic compound. 攵 represents the meaning and 贝 represents the sound. Simplified form of 敗.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 敗
Phonosemantic compound. 攵 represents the meaning and 贝 represents the sound. Simplified form of 敗.
- 1The meaning half攵 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half貝 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayrap
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 敗
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How to say failure; to decline, to fail, to suffer defeat in Chinese
“failure; to decline, to fail, to suffer defeat” in Chinese is敗
The character 敗 (bài) primarily means 'failure' or 'defeat.' It is commonly used in contexts related to losing a competition, experiencing setbacks, or facing disappointment. This character conveys a sense of decline or inability to succeed, making it relevant in both personal and professional discussions about failure.
When to use 敗
Be cautious not to confuse 敗 (bài) with other similar-sounding words. It is more formal and often used in literary or serious contexts. Common collocations include 敗北 (bàiběi, to be defeated) and 失敗 (shībài, to fail), which can create confusion for learners if not distinguished properly.
敗 or something close to it
败 (bài) vs 输 (shū): Use 敗 (bài) for a broader sense of failure or defeat, while 输 (shū) specifically refers to losing in a competition or game.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 敗 (bài) with similar-sounding words like 拜 (bài), which means 'to pay respects.' For example, saying '我败了' (wǒ bài le) to mean 'I paid respects' is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我拜了' (wǒ bài le).
Write 敗
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Practice writing 敗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 敗
Compound Meaning
What does 失败 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 敗
Common phrases include 失败 (shībài) which means 'to fail' and 敗北 (bàiběi) meaning 'to be defeated.'
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