失败

• Pinyin: shī bài
• Hanzi breakdown: 失 = 手 (hand) + a stroke indicating something slipping away, to lose; 败 = 贝 (shell/value) + 攴 (to strike), to break apart or ruin

Meaning

To fail; to be defeated; to lose (V); defeated; unsuccessful (Adj). The most common word for failing to achieve a goal or losing in a competition.

As a verb, 失败 covers failure in study, work, competition, and relationships. As an adjective, it describes an outcome that ended without success (e.g., 失败的计划 — a failed plan). The opposite is 成功 (succeed). The well-known proverb 失败是成功之母 (Failure is the mother of success) uses this word.

Examples

1. 他第一次参加比赛就失败了，但他没有放弃。 He failed the first time he entered a competition, but he did not give up.
2. 这次创业项目失败的原因是市场调查做得不够充分。 The reason this business project failed was that the market research was not thorough enough.
3. 失败了也没关系，重要的是从中学到了什么。 It doesn't matter if you fail — what matters is what you learn from it.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, work, sports, study

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这次实验失败了，我们需要重新设计方案。(This experiment failed — we need to redesign the plan.)
• 他不怕失败，每次跌倒都能重新站起来。(He is not afraid of failure and can get back on his feet every time he falls.)

Don't Say

• 用'失败'来描述小事没有达到预期 (Avoid using 失败 for trivial matters that fell short — it sounds too heavy; use 没成功 or 没做好 for minor setbacks)

Origin & History

A compound of 失 (to lose) + 败 (to be defeated). Together they strongly convey the idea of losing and failing to reach a goal.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal