失態

• Reading: しったい
• Romaji: shittai
• Kanji breakdown: 失 (shitsu) — lose, fail; 態 (tai) — state, bearing, manner, conduct
• Pronunciation: /ɕit.ta.i/

Meaning

Blunder; disgrace; misconduct. A serious lapse in conduct or performance that causes embarrassment or damage to one's reputation.

More serious than a simple 失敗 (failure) or ミス (mistake). 失態 implies a failure of composure, professionalism, or moral standards in a public or responsible context. Common phrases include 失態を犯す (to commit a blunder), 失態をさらす (to expose one's disgrace), and 失態を演じる (to make a spectacle of oneself). Often used in journalism about public figures.

Examples

1. 公の場での相次ぐ失態が、彼の政治生命を事実上終わらせることになった。 A succession of blunders in public effectively brought his political career to an end.
2. 重要な商談に必要書類を忘れるという失態を犯し、彼は深く反省した。 He committed the blunder of forgetting essential documents for an important business meeting and deeply reflected on his mistake.
3. あの失態を教訓として、二度と同じ過ちは繰り返さないと固く心に誓った。 Taking that disgrace as a lesson, he resolved firmly never to repeat the same mistake.

Usage Guide

Context: journalism, politics, business, social conduct

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound. 失 means to lose or to fail, 態 means state, bearing, or manner. Together they describe the state of having lost one's proper bearing — a failure of conduct rather than merely of skill.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated