输

• Pinyin: shū
• Hanzi breakdown: 输 = 车 (vehicle) + 俞 (hollow out, phonetic), originally meaning to transport

Meaning

To lose (a game, competition, or bet). The opposite of 赢 (to win).

Primarily used in competitive contexts: games, sports, arguments. Can also mean 'to transport' in formal contexts (运输, transportation), but the 'lose' meaning is far more common in everyday speech.

Examples

1. 昨天的篮球比赛我们输了。 We lost yesterday's basketball game.
2. 他下棋很少输。 He rarely loses at chess.
3. 这场比赛不能输。 We cannot lose this match.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, games, competition

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们队输了两分。(Our team lost by two points.)
• 输赢不重要，重要的是参与。(Winning or losing doesn't matter; what matters is participation.)

Don't Say

• 我输了我的钥匙。(Don't use 输 for losing objects — use 丢 instead. 输 means losing in a competition, not misplacing something.)

Origin & History

Originally meant 'to transport' (with the vehicle radical 车). The meaning of 'to lose' developed from the idea of sending away assets or advantage.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal