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March 24, 2026
失踪(失蹤)shīzōng(shi1zong1)
失踪 refers to the state of being unaccounted for, often used to describe individuals who have gone missing under mysterious or concerning circumstances. It is commonly used in news reports, police reports, or discussions about safety and security.
Strokes20Frequency#989DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the issue of missing persons can evoke serious concern and community action, often leading to public appeals for help or awareness campaigns, especially in cases involving children or vulnerable individuals.
Memory Tip
Think of 失 ('to lose') and 躺 ('to lie down'), combining to suggest something that has lost its place or presence, as if lying down and no longer visible. The pronunciation 'shi1 zong1' can be remembered by imagining a 'sheep' (shi) that has 'zoned out' and disappeared from sight.
Meanings of 失踪
shīzōng(shi1zong1)
1to be missing
2to disappear
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 失踪
失踪Simplified
失蹤Traditional
20Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#989Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 失踪
Podcast: 失踪
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AI Study Notes for 失踪
Quick Contrast
失联 (shīlián) — use 失踪 when emphasizing the mysterious or concerning nature of someone's disappearance, while 失联 is more neutral, often used in contexts like communication loss.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 失踪 with 失去 (to lose), but 失踪 specifically refers to someone missing rather than something lost. This term is generally used in formal contexts, such as law enforcement or media, rather than casual conversation.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 失踪 connects with other vocabulary about safety, crime, and emergencies. Students should focus on its usage in formal contexts and practice forming sentences about missing persons or items.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 失踪 to describe lost items, which is incorrect. For instance, saying '我的书失踪了' (My book is missing) should instead be '我的书不见了' (My book is gone).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 失踪
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失踪 refers to the state of being unaccounted for, often used to describe individuals who have gone missing under mysterious or concerning circumstances. It is commonly used in news reports, police reports, or discussions about safety and security.
When to use 失踪
Learners often confuse 失踪 with 失去 (to lose), but 失踪 specifically refers to someone missing rather than something lost. This term is generally used in formal contexts, such as law enforcement or media, rather than casual conversation.
失踪 or something close to it
失联 (shīlián) — use 失踪 when emphasizing the mysterious or concerning nature of someone's disappearance, while 失联 is more neutral, often used in contexts like communication loss.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use 失踪 to describe lost items, which is incorrect. For instance, saying '我的书失踪了' (My book is missing) should instead be '我的书不见了' (My book is gone).
Write 失踪
失
踪
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Grammar Patterns of 失踪
失踪 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 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
她自称是____的女继承人这件事从一开始就存在很多疑点.
From the start, doubts surrounded her claim to be the missing heiress.
Example Sentences for 失踪 (7)
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1
她自称是失踪的女继承人这件事从一开始就存在很多疑点.
tā zì chēng shì shī zōng de nǚ jì chéng rén zhè jiàn shì cóng yī kāi shǐ jiù cún zài hěn duō yí diǎn.
From the start, doubts surrounded her claim to be the missing heiress.
