胜负

• Pinyin: shèng fù
• Hanzi breakdown: 胜 = 月 (flesh) + 劵 (strength); 负 = 贝 (shell/money) + 刀 (knife)

Meaning

Victory or defeat; the outcome; winning and losing.

Refers to the result of a competition, combining 胜 (win) and 负 (lose). Used when discussing competitive outcomes in sports, games, battles, or any contest. Often appears in phrases like 不分胜负 (tie/draw) or 决定胜负 (determine the outcome).

Examples

1. 这场比赛不分胜负，双方打成了平局。 This match ended in a tie — neither side won or lost.
2. 最后一局将决定整场比赛的胜负。 The final game will determine the outcome of the entire competition.
3. 胜负乃兵家常事，不必太在意一次失败。 Victory and defeat are common in warfare — don't take a single loss too seriously.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, competition, games

Tone: competitive

Do Say

• 胜负已定。(The outcome has been decided.)
• 不在乎胜负，重在参与。(Not caring about winning or losing — participation matters most.)

Don't Say

• 我的胜负是什么 — 胜负 describes outcomes, not personal status; ask 我赢了还是输了？

Origin & History

Compound of 胜 (victory) + 负 (defeat), representing both possible outcomes of a contest.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal