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.
Imagine a knight (the radical '衣' representing clothing or armor) who has lost his battle (the character's overall meaning). The knight is now '败' (bài) in his attire, symbolizing his failure. This visual of a defeated knight helps associate the shape with the concept of defeat.
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.
In Chinese culture, failure is often viewed as a stepping stone to success, reflecting the adage '失敗是成功之母' (failure is the mother of success). This perspective encourages resilience and learning from defeats, making 敗 (bài) a part of discussions about personal growth.
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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Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 敗
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Cultural Notes for 敗
In Chinese culture, failure is often viewed as a stepping stone to success, reflecting the adage '失敗是成功之母' (failure is the mother of success). This perspective encourages resilience and learning from defeats, making 敗 (bài) a part of discussions about personal growth.
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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