How to say “failure” in Chinese

失败

shībài

failure; fail

verb · HSK 4 · topic “University and goals”

“Failure” in Chinese is 失败, shī bài: the meaning, a recording of how it sounds, the characters stroke by stroke and examples.

How to pronounce it

失败 is read shī bài: 2 syllables. The tone is part of the word: with another melody you get another word, or just a jumble of sounds.

shī — 1st tonehigh and level, like a long note

bài — 4th tonesharply falling, like “Stop!”

How to write it

失

shī — lose

Don't confuse it with 夫: 失 has an extra stroke at the top left.

败

bài — be defeated

Strokes go in order: top to bottom and left to right, horizontal before vertical. Tap a character to open its page, with the strokes shown large and the words it appears in. To train your hand, print a handwriting sheet for “失败”.

Examples

Sentences from the course lessons with 失败. Tap the sound icon to listen.

我又失败了，不想再试了。wǒyòushībàile,bùxiǎngzàishìleI failed again, I don't want to try anymore.
即使失败了也没关系jíshǐshībàile,yěméiguānxiEven if it doesn't work out, that's okay.
失败了也要保持好心态shībàileyěyàobǎochíhǎoxīntàiEven after a failure, you should keep a good attitude.
这次失败是谁的责任？zhècìshībàishìshéidezérènWhose fault was this failure?
我们要分析一下失败的原因wǒmenyàofēnxīyíxiàshībàideyuányīnWe need to analyze the causes of the failure.
我觉得这次失败全是别人的错。wǒjuédezhècìshībàiquánshìbiéréndecuòI think other people are entirely to blame for this failure.

More words from the lesson “Success and failure”

Look up another word in the Chinese–English dictionary: in English, in pinyin or in characters.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “failure” in Chinese?

“Failure” in Chinese is 失败, pinyin shībài.

What does 失败 mean?

失败 (shībài) means “failure; fail”.

How do you write 失败?

失败 is 2 characters: 失 (shī) — lose; 败 (bài) — be defeated. The stroke order of each one is shown step by step on this page.

How do you pronounce 失败?

失败 is read shībài. Tones: shī — first tone, bài — fourth tone. The page has a native speaker recording.

“failure” in the lesson “Success and failure”

This word is from the topic “University and goals” of HSK 4. In the lesson you hear it in a dialogue, build a sentence with it and say it out loud. Start for free, no sign-up needed.

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