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March 24, 2026
敗bài(bai4)
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.
Strokes11Radical攵Frequency#62293DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
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.
Memory Tip
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.
Meanings of 敗
bài(bai4)
1failure; to decline, to fail, to suffer defeat
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 敗
敗Simplified
11Strokes
攵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 敗
Podcast: 敗
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AI Study Notes for 敗
Quick Contrast
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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
Usage Notes
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.
HSK Study Tips
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.
Cultural Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 敗
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Cultural Notes for 敗
🏮Cultural insight
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
Words Containing This Character20
失败shībàito lose失敗
打败dǎbàito defeat打敗
败bàito defeat敗
击败to defeat擊敗
腐败fǔbàicorruption腐敗
失败者loser失敗者
成败success or failure成敗
反腐败to oppose corruption反腐敗
挫败to thwart挫敗
惨败to suffer a crushing defeat慘敗
败类degenerate敗類
败坏bàihuàito ruin敗壞
战败to lose a war戰敗
落败to fail落敗
败诉lose a lawsuit敗訴
一败涂地a crushing defeat一敗塗地
败露(of a plot etc) to fall through and stand exposed敗露
大败to defeat大敗
气急败坏flustered and exasperated氣急敗壞
败血症septicaemia敗血症
Exercise 1 of 4
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.'
The correct pronunciation is 'bài,' with a falling tone.
Yes, but it's more commonly used in formal contexts or discussions about competition.
