Meanings of 失败
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Podcast: 失败
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AI Study Notes for 失败
失败 (shībài) vs 错误 (cuòwù) — use 失败 for broader failure contexts like competitions, while 错误 specifically refers to mistakes or errors.
Be careful not to confuse 失败 with 成功 (chéng gōng), which means success. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, but can also be used in formal discussions about failure in business or education. A common mistake is to use it with a subject that does not denote a meaningful failure, such as '我失败了' (I failed) without context.
As an HSK Level 4 word, 失败 connects well with other verbs describing outcomes, such as 成功 (chéng gōng) and 尝试 (cháng shì). Students should focus on using it in sentences that reflect real-life situations where failure can occur.
Learners often mistakenly use 失败 with an object that is not typically failed at, such as '我失败了这本书' (I failed this book), which should be corrected to '我没能理解这本书' (I couldn't understand this book).
Pronunciation of 失败
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Component Characters
How to say to be defeated in Chinese
“to be defeated” in Chinese is失败
失败 (shī bài) means to fail or to be defeated. It is commonly used in contexts such as competitions, exams, and experiments to indicate a lack of success or an unfavorable outcome. The term conveys not only the act of failing but can also refer to the concept of defeat in a broader sense.
When to use 失败
Be careful not to confuse 失败 with 成功 (chéng gōng), which means success. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, but can also be used in formal discussions about failure in business or education. A common mistake is to use it with a subject that does not denote a meaningful failure, such as '我失败了' (I failed) without context.
失败 or something close to it
失败 (shībài) vs 错误 (cuòwù) — use 失败 for broader failure contexts like competitions, while 错误 specifically refers to mistakes or errors.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 失败 with an object that is not typically failed at, such as '我失败了这本书' (I failed this book), which should be corrected to '我没能理解这本书' (I couldn't understand this book).
Write 失败
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Practice writing 失败 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 失败
失败 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
成功是它，____也是它，这个选择我绝对不后悔。
Whether I succeed or fail, I will absolutely not regret this choice.
Example Sentences for 失败 (10)
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Cultural Notes for 失败
In Western cultures, failure is often stigmatized, while in Chinese culture, it is more accepted as a part of the growth process, illustrating a different approach towards mistakes and learning.
Frequently Asked Questions about 失败
失败 refers to a broader sense of failure, while 失误 specifically means a mistake or error.
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