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失利 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
失利shīlìto loseHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #16026, Very Hard
失利shīlìto suffer defeatHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #16026, Very Hard
shīlì(shi1li4)shi li T1
  1. 1to lose
  2. 2to suffer defeat
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March 24, 2026

失利shīlì(shi1li4)

失利 (shīlì) means to lose or to suffer a defeat, often used in competitive contexts such as sports, business, or personal endeavors. It conveys the sense of not achieving the desired outcome, specifically when one has put in effort to succeed.

Strokes12Frequency#16026DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese sports culture, the concept of losing (失利) is often discussed in the context of national pride, especially during international competitions like the Olympics. Athletes face significant pressure to avoid 失利 and represent their country honorably.

Memory Tip

Imagine a warrior (士) who loses (失) a battle, leading to his defeat. The character 失 looks like a person falling down, emphasizing loss, while 利 suggests profit or gain, making the contrast clear. Picture the warrior's disappointment as he realizes he has lost the battle.

Meanings of 失利

shīlì(shi1li4)
1to lose
2to suffer defeat
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About 失利

失利Simplified
12Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 失利

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AI Study Notes for 失利

Quick Contrast

失误 (shīwù) refers to making a mistake or error, while 失利 (shīlì) specifically denotes losing or suffering a defeat in a competitive context.

Usage Notes

失利 is generally used in formal contexts, particularly in discussing team sports or competitions. A common mistake is to confuse it with 失败 (shībài), which also means to fail but is broader and can refer to personal failures. Watch out for tone errors, as mispronouncing 失 as shí can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 失利 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it can be related to HSK Level 4 terms about competition and success. Focus on using it in sentences discussing outcomes, such as sports events or business performances, to enhance contextual understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 失利 with 失败 (shībài). For instance, saying '我失利了' (wǒ shīlì le) instead of '我失败了' (wǒ shībài le) when talking about a personal failure is incorrect. Remember, 失利 is more specific to competitive situations.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 失利

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Component Characters

失shīto lose
5 strokes大
View full entry
利lìsharp
HSK 67 strokes刂
View full entry

How to say to lose in Chinese

“to lose” in Chinese is失利shīlì

失利 (shīlì) means to lose or to suffer a defeat, often used in competitive contexts such as sports, business, or personal endeavors. It conveys the sense of not achieving the desired outcome, specifically when one has put in effort to succeed.

When to use 失利

失利 is generally used in formal contexts, particularly in discussing team sports or competitions. A common mistake is to confuse it with 失败 (shībài), which also means to fail but is broader and can refer to personal failures. Watch out for tone errors, as mispronouncing 失 as shí can change the meaning.

失利 or something close to it

失误 (shīwù) refers to making a mistake or error, while 失利 (shīlì) specifically denotes losing or suffering a defeat in a competitive context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 失利 with 失败 (shībài). For instance, saying '我失利了' (wǒ shīlì le) instead of '我失败了' (wǒ shībài le) when talking about a personal failure is incorrect. Remember, 失利 is more specific to competitive situations.

Write 失利

失
利

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Frequently Asked Questions about 失利

Yes, but it's more common in formal discussions about competitions or challenges.

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