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B2 verb 9分で読める

mislukken

練習する例文メモとヒント mislukken 30秒で

解説 mislukken in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'mislukken' means something did not go well. It is like saying 'not good' or 'wrong outcome.' You might use it for very simple things like food or a game. For example, 'De cake is mislukt' means the cake is not good to eat. You should remember that it is the opposite of 'lukken' (to succeed). At this level, don't worry too much about the grammar rules, just remember the phrase 'Het is mislukt' (It failed). You will mostly see the past participle 'mislukt' used as an adjective or in the perfect tense. Focus on basic sentences where a thing is the subject. 'Mijn tekening is mislukt' (My drawing failed/is bad). It's a useful word to express that something didn't turn out the way you wanted. Because A1 students are just starting, think of 'mislukken' as a 'result' word. You tried to do something, and the result was 'mislukt'.

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At the A2 level, you should start noticing that 'mislukken' uses the verb 'zijn' in the past. In English, you say 'I have failed,' but in Dutch, you say 'Het IS mislukt.' This is an important rule for A2 learners. You can use 'mislukken' to describe simple events in your day. 'De afspraak is mislukt' (The meeting/appointment failed/didn't happen well). You also learn the past tense: 'mislukte.' For example: 'Gisteren mislukte mijn diner.' You should also know the difference between 'mislukken' and 'fout.' A 'fout' is a mistake you make, but 'mislukken' is what happens to the whole task. You can also start using it with simple adverbs like 'bijna' (almost). 'Het is bijna mislukt.' This level is about connecting the word to your own activities and understanding that it describes the outcome of an action, not the person doing it. You are the one who acts, but the project is the one that 'mislukt'.

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At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'mislukken' in more complex sentences, including subordinate clauses. For example: 'Ik vind het jammer dat het project is mislukt.' Notice how the verbs 'is mislukt' go to the end. You should also be able to distinguish 'mislukken' from 'zakken.' Remember: you 'zakt' for an exam, but a plan 'mislukt.' You can also use 'mislukken' in professional contexts. 'De samenwerking is mislukt door een gebrek aan communicatie.' You start to see the noun form 'de mislukking' (the failure). You can talk about why things fail using 'omdat' or 'doordat.' For example: 'De missie mislukte doordat er te weinig geld was.' At B1, you should also be comfortable using 'mislukt' as an adjective before a noun: 'Een mislukte poging' (A failed attempt). This level requires a better grasp of the 'zijn' auxiliary and the ability to use the word in both spoken and written Dutch to describe more abstract failures, like a failed vacation or a failed experiment.

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At the B2 level, you should understand the nuance between 'mislukken,' 'falen,' and 'misgaan.' 'Mislukken' is often the objective result, while 'falen' can imply a moral or personal shortcoming. You should be able to use 'mislukken' in formal reports or discussions about social issues. For example: 'Het integratiebeleid is grotendeels mislukt.' You also learn common collocations like 'faliekant mislukken' (to fail completely) or 'gedoemd zijn om te mislukken' (to be doomed to fail). At B2, you should be able to discuss the causes and consequences of failure in detail. You might use the conditional: 'Als de overheid niet had ingegrepen, was de bankencrisis volledig mislukt' (though 'mislukken' here might be replaced by 'geëscaleerd', 'mislukken' works for a rescue plan). You also recognize 'mislukken' in literature or news where it describes complex processes like peace negotiations or economic strategies. Your word order in complex sentences should be near-perfect, and you should use the auxiliary 'zijn' automatically without thinking.

At the C1 level, you explore the stylistic uses of 'mislukken.' You can use it to create emphasis or to describe abstract philosophical failures. For example, 'Zijn hele leven voelde als een mislukte onderneming.' You understand the subtle registers—'mislukken' is neutral, while 'floppen' is informal and 'stranden' is more specific to processes hitting a wall. You can use 'mislukken' in the 'te + infinitief' construction with ease: 'Het risico om te mislukken was simpelweg te groot.' You also start to use more sophisticated adverbs: 'jammerlijk mislukken,' 'hopeloos mislukken,' or 'technisch mislukken.' You can analyze the word's role in Dutch culture, such as the 'zesjescultuur' or the social stigma (or lack thereof) surrounding a 'mislukte' business venture. At this level, you should be able to write an essay about why certain social experiments 'mislukken' and use the word family (mislukking, mislukt) to add variety to your writing. You also understand its use in ironic or sarcastic contexts.

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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'mislukken' is total. You can use it in highly technical, academic, or literary contexts. You might use it to describe the failure of a specific linguistic theory or a complex historical movement. You are aware of the word's etymological roots and how it relates to other Germanic languages. You can use 'mislukken' in very long, nested sentences without losing track of the 'zijn' auxiliary or the correct word order. For example: 'Ofschoon de aanvankelijke opzet van het onderzoek alleszins lovenswaardig was, moet men concluderen dat de uitvoering ervan op fundamentele punten is mislukt.' You understand the absolute nuance between 'mislukken' and its most rare synonyms like 'afketsen' or 'schipbreuk lijden' (metaphorical). You can also use the word in creative writing to convey deep themes of human inadequacy or the futility of certain endeavors. At this level, the word is not just a vocabulary item but a tool for precise, nuanced expression in any possible Dutch-speaking environment.

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練習する例文メモとヒント

mislukken 30秒で

Mislukken means 'to fail' and is used for things, plans, or outcomes that don't work out as intended.
It is an intransitive verb that always takes the auxiliary 'zijn' (e.g., 'Het is mislukt').
Commonly used for cooking, business projects, and abstract failures like 'een mislukt huwelijk'.
It is the direct opposite of 'lukken' (to succeed) and is neutral in formality.

The Dutch verb mislukken is a fundamental word used to describe the failure of a project, a task, an experiment, or an attempt. For English speakers, it is most directly translated as 'to fail' or 'to be unsuccessful.' However, unlike the English verb 'to fail,' which can be used both for people (e.g., 'He failed the test') and things (e.g., 'The plan failed'), mislukken is primarily used for the event or the object itself. In Dutch, the thing that fails is the subject of the sentence. If you want to say that a person failed at something, you would often use the verb falen or zakken (specifically for exams), though mislukken can describe the outcome of their efforts.

Core Meaning: To not reach the intended goal or to have an outcome that is negative or unintended. It implies a process that went wrong.

De cake is helaas volledig mislukt.

The word is composed of the prefix mis- (meaning wrong or bad) and the verb lukken (to succeed). Therefore, etymologically, it literally means 'to succeed wrongly' or 'to un-succeed.' This makes it very intuitive for learners: if something 'luks' (succeeds), it is a success; if it 'misluks' (fails), it is a failure. It is used in everyday contexts like cooking ('mijn diner is mislukt'), professional contexts ('het project is mislukt'), and even abstract contexts ('hun huwelijk is mislukt').

Register: Neutral to Informal. It is appropriate for both daily conversation and formal reports.

De lancering van de raket is op het laatste moment mislukt.

In a broader sense, mislukken reflects a change of state. Something was in the process of being done, and it transitioned into a state of failure. This is why it belongs to the category of 'ergative verbs' in Dutch grammar, which dictates the use of zijn. When you use this word, you are focusing on the result rather than the action of failing. It is a very common word in Dutch news, especially when discussing government policies, negotiations, or sports results where expectations were not met.

Synonym Contrast: While 'falen' sounds more personal and often more dramatic, 'mislukken' is the standard, objective word for things going wrong.

Door de regen is de hele oogst mislukt.

Het experiment om goud te maken is jammerlijk mislukt.

Using mislukken correctly requires understanding its status as an intransitive verb that always takes the auxiliary zijn. Because the thing failing is the subject, the sentence structure usually follows: [Subject] + [Verb form of zijn] + [mislukt]. In the present tense, it is conjugated regularly: 'Het mislukt.' In the past tense: 'Het mislukte.' In the present perfect: 'Het is mislukt.'

Present Tense: Used for general truths or ongoing processes. 'Elke poging die hij onderneemt, mislukt.'

Als we niet voorzichtig zijn, mislukt de hele operatie.

A common grammatical hurdle for English speakers is the word order in subordinate clauses. In Dutch, the verbs often move to the end. For example: 'Ik ben bang dat het plan mislukt.' (I am afraid that the plan fails). In the perfect tense, this becomes: 'Ik ben bang dat het plan is mislukt' or '... mislukt is.' Both are correct, though the latter is very common in spoken Dutch.

Past Tense (Imperfectum): Used when describing a specific event in the past. 'De eerste poging mislukte, maar de tweede was een succes.'

Helaas mislukte de missie door een technische storing.

In business contexts, mislukken is frequently used with adverbs that quantify the degree of failure. 'Grotendeels mislukt' (mostly failed), 'deels mislukt' (partially failed), or 'totaal mislukt' (totally failed). It is also common to see it in the passive-like construction with 'is': 'Het project is gedoemd om te mislukken' (The project is doomed to fail). Here, 'om te mislukken' acts as an infinitive clause.

Conditional Usage: Used with 'zou'. 'Zonder jouw hulp zou het project zeker zijn mislukt.'

Het zou jammer zijn als deze kans zou mislukken.

De politie deed een mislukte inval in het pand.

You will encounter mislukken in a vast array of real-life situations in the Netherlands and Flanders. It is one of those 'high-utility' verbs that bridges the gap between casual kitchen talk and high-stakes political analysis. In a Dutch household, you might hear it when someone is baking: 'De appeltaart is mislukt, de bodem is nog rauw!' (The apple pie failed, the bottom is still raw!). Here, it conveys a sense of disappointment but is relatively low-stakes.

In the Media: News headlines often use it for failed government coalitions or peace talks. 'De formatie is mislukt' is a phrase every Dutch person knows from the long process of forming a cabinet.

De onderhandelingen tussen de vakbonden en de werkgevers zijn mislukt.

In the workplace, mislukken is used during project evaluations (evaluaties). A manager might say, 'We moeten analyseren waarom deze marketingcampagne is mislukt' (We need to analyze why this marketing campaign failed). It is also used in the tech sector regarding software deployments or startup ventures. If a Dutch entrepreneur says 'Mijn startup is mislukt,' they are stating a fact about the business entity, not necessarily their personal competence, though the two are linked.

At School/University: While students 'zakken' (sink/fail) for exams, they might say their 'scriptie-onderzoek' (thesis research) has 'mislukt' if the data didn't yield results.

Zijn poging om de deadline te halen is helaas mislukt.

Socially, it can be used for failed dates or social gatherings. 'Het feestje was een beetje mislukt, want er kwam bijna niemand opdagen' (The party was a bit of a failure because almost nobody showed up). In this context, it describes the event's atmosphere or outcome. You will also see it on social media, often self-deprecatingly, with photos of 'mislukte' DIY projects or recipes (similar to the 'Pinterest Fail' trend).

Legal/Police Context: 'Een mislukte overval' (a failed robbery) is a standard phrase in police reports and crime news.

De inbraak is mislukt omdat het alarm afging.

Even advanced learners of Dutch often stumble when using mislukken. The most frequent error is related to the auxiliary verb in the perfect tense. English uses 'have' ('It has failed'), leading many to incorrectly say 'Het heeft mislukt.' In Dutch, verbs that indicate a transition or a result (like worden, gebeuren, and mislukken) must use zijn.

The 'Zijn' vs 'Hebben' Trap: Incorrect: 'De operatie heeft mislukt.'
Correct: 'De operatie is mislukt.'

Mijn plan is volledig mislukt.

Another common mistake is confusing mislukken with zakken. English uses 'fail' for both an experiment and an exam. Dutch does not. If you say 'Ik ben mislukt voor mijn rijexamen,' a Dutch person will understand you, but it sounds very strange. You should say 'Ik ben gezakt voor mijn rijexamen.' Remember: people zakken for tests; activities mislukken.

Subject-Verb Confusion: Learners often try to make themselves the subject: 'Ik mislukte de taart.' This is wrong. The taart is the subject: 'De taart mislukte (bij mij).'

Alles wat ik probeer te koken, mislukt.

Lastly, be careful with the word misstap or mislukking. While 'mislukking' is the noun form of 'mislukken,' learners sometimes use it where 'fout' (mistake) or 'gebrek' (defect) would be more appropriate. A 'mislukking' is a total failure of an endeavor, not just a small error. If you make a typo, it's not a 'mislukking,' it's a 'typefout.'

Spelling Note: Ensure you include the double 'k' in the stem (misluk-). The past tense is 'mislukte' (one 't' because the stem ends in 'k', which is in 't kofschip).

De poging mislukte jammerlijk.

While mislukken is the most common way to express failure, Dutch offers several alternatives depending on the nuance and register. Understanding these differences will help you sound more like a native speaker and avoid repetitive language.

Falen: More formal and personal. Used when a person fails to meet a standard or duty. 'Het systeem heeft gefaald' (The system has failed).
Zakken: Specifically used for failing exams, tests, or driving trials. 'Ik ben gezakt voor mijn examen.'
Misgaan: Literally 'to go wrong'. Less heavy than 'mislukken'. 'Er is iets misgegaan' (Something went wrong).

Het kan nog steeds misgaan, ook al ziet het er nu goed uit.

In informal settings, you might hear floppen (to flop), especially regarding movies, books, or shows. 'Die nieuwe film is totaal geflopt.' Another colorful expression is in de soep lopen (to run into the soup), meaning a plan has gone completely awry. If a project is halted before it even really starts, you can say it is gestrand (stranded).

Mislukken vs Falen: 'Mislukken' is for the result (The cake failed). 'Falen' is for the agency (The baker failed).

Zijn carrière mislukte door een reeks verkeerde keuzes.

For technical failures, Dutch speakers often use haperen (to stutter/falter) or vastlopen (to get stuck/crash). If a computer program 'mislukt,' it usually means the installation failed, but if it 'loopt vast,' it means it stopped working while running. Choosing the right word depends on whether you are talking about the *outcome* or the *mechanism* of the failure.

Table of Alternatives

Mislukken: General failure of a thing/plan.
Falen: Personal or systemic failure.
Zakken: Failing a test.
Floppen: Commercial failure.
Stranden: Failure due to obstacles.

De onderhandelingen zijn op de details gestrand.

How Formal Is It?

豆知識

The root 'luk' is the same as in 'geluk' (luck). So 'mislukken' literally means to have 'bad luck' in the outcome of an action.

発音ガイド

UK /mɪsˈlʏkə(n)/

US /mɪsˈlʌkən/

The stress is on the second syllable: mis-LUK-ken.

韻が合う語

lukken drukken plukken bukken rukken stukken verrukken gelukken

よくある間違い

Pronouncing 'mis' with a long 'ee' sound.
Pronouncing the 'u' like the English 'oo' in 'boot'.
Stressing the first syllable instead of the second.
Failing to pronounce the 'k' sound clearly.
Over-pronouncing the final 'n'.

難易度

読解 2/5

Easy to recognize due to 'mis-' prefix and 'lukken' root.

ライティング 4/5

Difficulties with the 'zijn' auxiliary and the double 'k' spelling.

スピーキング 3/5

Requires correct stress on the second syllable.

リスニング 2/5

Clear pronunciation, though the final 'n' is often dropped.

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

lukken mis zijn niet goed

次に学ぶ

falen zakken misgaan slagen poging

上級

afketsen stranden schipbreuk lijden floppen

知っておくべき文法

Ergative Verbs and 'Zijn'

Verbs like 'mislukken' that describe a change of state always use 'zijn' in the perfect tense.

't Kofschip

The stem 'misluk' ends in 'k', so the past tense is 'mislukte' and the participle is 'mislukt'.

Word Order in Subordinate Clauses

In 'Ik denk dat het mislukt', the verb 'mislukt' goes to the end.

Prefix 'mis-'

The prefix 'mis-' indicates something is done wrongly (e.g., misverstand, misdaad).

Inseparable Verbs

'Mislukken' is inseparable; you never say 'lukken mis'.

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レベル別の例文

De cake is mislukt.

The cake failed.

Simple perfect tense with 'is'.

Mijn tekening is mislukt.

My drawing failed.

The thing (drawing) is the subject.

Het feestje is mislukt.

The party failed.

Used to describe an event's outcome.

Is het mislukt?

Did it fail?

Question form with 'is'.

Alles is mislukt.

Everything failed.

'Alles' (everything) is the subject.

De soep is mislukt.

The soup failed.

Food is a common subject for this verb.

Mijn plan is mislukt.

My plan failed.

Abstract concept 'plan' as subject.

Het lukt niet, het mislukt.

It's not succeeding, it's failing.

Contrast between 'lukken' and 'mislukken'.

Het diner mislukte gisteren.

The dinner failed yesterday.

Past tense (imperfectum) 'mislukte'.

De foto is een beetje mislukt.

The photo failed a bit.

Using 'een beetje' as a modifier.

Waarom is het project mislukt?

Why did the project fail?

Interrogative sentence.

Zijn eerste poging mislukte.

His first attempt failed.

Ordinal number with 'poging'.

De vakantie was bijna mislukt door de regen.

The holiday was almost a failure due to the rain.

Using 'bijna' (almost) and 'door' (due to).

Ik dacht dat het zou mislukken.

I thought it would fail.

Conditional 'zou mislukken'.

De verrassing is helaas mislukt.

The surprise unfortunately failed.

Adverb 'helaas' (unfortunately).

Mijn broer zijn experiment is mislukt.

My brother's experiment failed.

Possessive structure.

Het project is mislukt omdat er geen geld meer was.

The project failed because there was no more money.

Conjunction 'omdat' with subordinate clause.

Ik ben bang dat onze missie gaat mislukken.

I am afraid our mission is going to fail.

Future tense with 'gaat'.

Ondanks de goede voorbereiding is de operatie mislukt.

Despite the good preparation, the operation failed.

Preposition 'ondanks' (despite).

De politie meldde dat de overval was mislukt.

The police reported that the robbery had failed.

Past perfect 'was mislukt'.

Zij hebben een mislukte poging gedaan om te ontsnappen.

They made a failed attempt to escape.

Adjective 'mislukte' before the noun.

Het is jammer dat de samenwerking is mislukt.

It's a pity that the collaboration failed.

Impersonal 'Het is jammer dat...'.

Zonder jouw hulp was het zeker mislukt.

Without your help, it would have certainly failed.

Hypothetical past using 'was' (short for 'zou zijn').

De taart zag er goed uit, maar de smaak was mislukt.

The cake looked good, but the taste was a failure.

Contrast with 'maar'.

De onderhandelingen zijn op het laatste moment faliekant mislukt.

The negotiations failed completely at the last moment.

Adverb 'faliekant' for emphasis.

Het nieuwe beleid van de overheid lijkt te mislukken.

The government's new policy seems to be failing.

Verb 'lijken' (to seem) + te + infinitive.

Velen geloven dat dit experiment gedoemd is om te mislukken.

Many believe this experiment is doomed to fail.

Phrase 'gedoemd zijn om te...'.

De lancering is mislukt door een technisch defect in de motor.

The launch failed due to a technical defect in the engine.

Specific technical cause.

Na drie mislukte huwelijken besloot hij alleen te blijven.

After three failed marriages, he decided to stay alone.

Adjective usage in a complex sentence.

Het is nog onduidelijk waarom de reddingsactie is mislukt.

It is still unclear why the rescue operation failed.

Indirect question with 'waarom'.

De poging om de inflatie te stoppen is jammerlijk mislukt.

The attempt to stop inflation has failed miserably.

Adverb 'jammerlijk' (miserably/pitifully).

Alles wat mis kon gaan, is ook daadwerkelijk mislukt.

Everything that could go wrong, actually failed.

Using 'daadwerkelijk' (actually/really).

De film was een commerciële mislukking, ondanks de sterrencast.

The film was a commercial failure, despite the star-studded cast.

Noun form 'mislukking'.

Zijn ambities om de wereld te veranderen zijn hopeloos mislukt.

His ambitions to change the world have failed hopelessly.

Abstract subject 'ambities'.

De architectuur van de jaren '70 wordt vaak als mislukt beschouwd.

The architecture of the 70s is often considered a failure.

Passive-like construction with 'beschouwd als'.

Het risico dat de fusie zou mislukken, was te groot voor de aandeelhouders.

The risk that the merger would fail was too great for the shareholders.

Noun clause as subject.

Een mislukte oogst kan leiden tot grote sociale onrust.

A failed harvest can lead to great social unrest.

Causal relationship in a formal sentence.

De auteur beschrijft op indringende wijze zijn mislukte jeugd.

The author describes his failed youth in a poignant way.

Metaphorical/emotional use of 'mislukt'.

Elke poging tot dialoog is tot nu toe op niets uitgelopen en dus mislukt.

Every attempt at dialogue has so far come to nothing and thus failed.

Combining synonyms for precision.

De maatschappij mag niet toelaten dat dit integratieproces mislukt.

Society must not allow this integration process to fail.

Modal verb 'mogen' + 'toelaten' (to allow).

De ontmanteling van de verzorgingsstaat wordt door critici als een mislukt experiment gezien.

The dismantling of the welfare state is seen by critics as a failed experiment.

Highly formal academic register.

In zijn laatste werk reflecteert hij op de mislukte idealen van zijn generatie.

In his final work, he reflects on the failed ideals of his generation.

Abstract philosophical subject.

Het is een misvatting dat innovatie enkel kan voortkomen uit mislukte pogingen.

It is a misconception that innovation can only stem from failed attempts.

Complex logical structure.

De vredesbesprekingen zijn jammerlijk mislukt, wat de weg vrijmaakt voor verdere escalatie.

The peace talks have failed miserably, clearing the way for further escalation.

Relative clause 'wat...'.

Zijn poging om de kwantummechanica te verenigen met de relativiteitstheorie is vooralsnog mislukt.

His attempt to unify quantum mechanics with the theory of relativity has failed for the time being.

Scientific context.

De socioloog analyseert hoe de stedelijke herontwikkeling in deze wijk faliekant is mislukt.

The sociologist analyzes how the urban redevelopment in this neighborhood has failed completely.

Embedded question with 'hoe'.

Een mislukte staat, of 'failed state', is een term die vaak verkeerd wordt gebruikt.

A failed state is a term that is often used incorrectly.

Terminology discussion.

Het wezen van de tragedie ligt vaak in de mislukte communicatie tussen de protagonisten.

The essence of tragedy often lies in the failed communication between the protagonists.

Literary analysis.

よく使う組み合わせ

faliekant mislukken

jammerlijk mislukken

gedoemd om te mislukken

totaal mislukt

grotendeels mislukt

technisch mislukken

mislukte poging

mislukte oogst

mislukt experiment

mislukt huwelijk

よく使うフレーズ

Poging mislukt.

— An attempt failed. Often used as a short, dry comment.

Ik probeerde hem te bellen. Poging mislukt.

Het kan niet mislukken.

— It cannot fail. Used when something is a 'sure thing'.

Met dit recept kan het niet mislukken.

Een mislukt exemplaar.

— A failed specimen. Used for a product with a defect.

Dit shirt heeft drie mouwen; het is een mislukt exemplaar.

Hopeloos mislukt.

— Hopelessly failed. Used for a disaster with no saving grace.

De verbouwing is hopeloos mislukt.

Deels mislukt.

— Partially failed. Some parts worked, some didn't.

De lancering was deels mislukt.

Mislukt project.

— Failed project. A standard business term.

We moeten praten over het mislukte project.

Mislukte overval.

— Failed robbery. Common in news reports.

Er was gisteravond een mislukte overval op de supermarkt.

Mislukte grap.

— A joke that failed. Used when nobody laughs.

Dat was een nogal mislukte grap van de leraar.

Helaas mislukt.

— Unfortunately failed. A polite way to state failure.

De cake is helaas mislukt.

Niet laten mislukken.

— Don't let it fail. An exhortation to succeed.

We mogen deze kans niet laten mislukken.

よく混同される語

mislukken vs falen

Falen is more personal/formal; mislukken is more objective/about the thing.

mislukken vs zakken

Zakken is specifically for exams; mislukken is for tasks/plans.

mislukken vs misgaan

Misgaan is 'to go wrong' (process); mislukken is 'to fail' (result).

慣用句と表現

"In de soep lopen"

— For a plan to go completely wrong or fail due to chaos.

Door de vertraging van de trein liep de hele middag in de soep.

informal

"Schipbreuk lijden"

— To fail significantly, usually in a career or a relationship.

Zijn plannen voor een eigen bedrijf leden schipbreuk.

formal

"Op een sisser aflopen"

— To fail to produce the expected excitement or result; to fizzle out.

De grote demonstratie liep op een sisser af.

neutral

"De mist in gaan"

— To go wrong or fail, often due to a mistake or lack of clarity.

Met die berekening ging hij volledig de mist in.

informal

"Met een sisser aflopen"

— Similar to 'op een sisser aflopen', meaning it ended with a whimper.

De ruzie liep met een sisser af.

neutral

"Bakzeil halen"

— To have to back down after a failed attempt or argument.

De minister moest bakzeil halen na de mislukte stemming.

formal

"Een flater slaan"

— To make a big, embarrassing mistake that leads to failure.

Hij sloeg een enorme flater tijdens zijn presentatie.

informal

"Het onderspit delven"

— To be defeated or to fail in a competition or struggle.

In de finale moest het team het onderspit delven.

formal

"Op de klippen lopen"

— To fail or run aground, specifically used for relationships or negotiations.

Hun huwelijk is na tien jaar op de klippen gelopen.

neutral

"Iets de nek omdraaien"

— To deliberately make something fail or to end it abruptly.

De directie draaide het nieuwe project al snel de nek om.

informal

間違えやすい

mislukken vs zakken

Both translate to 'fail' in English.

Zakken is used for tests, exams, and trials where a person is evaluated. Mislukken is used for the outcome of an activity or the state of an object.

Ik ben gezakt voor mijn examen, want mijn voorbereiding was mislukt.

mislukken vs falen

Both mean 'to fail'.

Falen often implies a personal shortcoming or a system not working as it should. Mislukken is the standard word for a result that isn't what was wanted.

De techniek faalde, waardoor het hele experiment mislukte.

mislukken vs verliezen

Failure often involves losing.

Verliezen is to lose a game or an object. Mislukken is for a task not working out.

We hebben de wedstrijd verloren omdat onze tactiek mislukte.

mislukken vs mislopen

Both start with 'mis-'.

Mislopen means to miss out on something (like an appointment or a prize). Mislukken means the thing itself failed.

Ik heb de trein misgelopen, dus mijn plan om op tijd te zijn is mislukt.

mislukken vs misstappen

Both involve things going wrong.

A misstap is a literal or figurative 'wrong step' or blunder. Mislukken is the failure of the whole endeavor.

Door één kleine misstap is de hele missie mislukt.

文型パターン

[Subject] is mislukt.

De taart is mislukt.

[Subject] mislukte [Time].

De afspraak mislukte gisteren.

Ik vind het [Adjective] dat [Subject] is mislukt.

Ik vind het jammer dat de reis is mislukt.

[Subject] is gedoemd om te mislukken.

Dit plan is gedoemd om te mislukken.

Ondanks [Noun], is [Subject] [Adverb] mislukt.

Ondanks de hulp, is de actie jammerlijk mislukt.

Het feit dat [Subject] is mislukt, wijst op [Noun].

Het feit dat de fusie is mislukt, wijst op een cultuurverschil.

Een [Adjective] [Noun].

Een mislukte poging.

[Subject] zou zijn mislukt als...

Het project zou zijn mislukt als jij niet had geholpen.

語族

名詞

de mislukking (the failure)

de mislukkeling (the failure/loser - personal)

動詞

mislukken (to fail)

lukken (to succeed)

形容詞

mislukt (failed)

onmislukbaar (un-fail-able - rare)

使い方

frequency

Very common in both spoken and written Dutch.

よくある間違い

Het heeft mislukt. → Het is mislukt.
Dutch uses 'zijn' for verbs of result/change of state. English 'have' does not translate here.
Ik ben mislukt voor mijn examen. → Ik ben gezakt voor mijn examen.
You 'sink' (zakken) for exams. 'Mislukken' is for the plan or the object.
Ik mislukte de taart. → De taart mislukte.
In Dutch, the thing that fails is the subject. You cannot 'mislukken' an object like you can 'fail' it in English.
Het is misgelukt. → Het is mislukt.
Learners sometimes try to put 'ge-' after 'mis-'. Since 'mislukken' is inseparable and the stress is not on the first syllable, it doesn't get a 'ge-' in the participle.
Mijn plan is mislukken. → Mijn plan is mislukt.
Confusion between the infinitive and the past participle.

ヒント

The 'Zijn' Rule

Always pair 'mislukt' with 'is' or 'zijn'. If you find yourself saying 'heeft mislukt', stop and correct it immediately. This is one of the most visible markers of a non-native speaker.

Mislukken vs. Zakken

Think of 'zakken' as 'sinking' through an exam. Think of 'mislukken' as a 'mishap' with a task. This mental image helps you choose the right word for failing an exam.

Stress the Root

The stress is on 'LUK'. Say it like: mis-LUK-ken. Putting the stress on 'MIS' sounds unnatural to Dutch ears.

Cooking Context

Dutch people love to use 'mislukt' for food. If your dinner isn't perfect, just say 'Het is een beetje mislukt'. It's a very common, humble way to talk about cooking.

Adverbial Power

Level up your B2/C1 writing by using 'jammerlijk' or 'faliekant' with 'mislukken'. It shows you understand Dutch collocations and nuances.

The Silent N

In fluent speech, the final 'n' in 'mislukken' is almost never heard. Focus on the 'mislukke' sound to recognize it in conversation.

Nuchterheid

When something 'mislukt', the Dutch response is usually 'Helaas, pindakaas' (Too bad, peanut butter) or a simple 'Volgende keer beter'. Don't be afraid to use the word; it's not always a tragedy.

Mis- Fortune

Associate 'mis-' with 'mistake' and 'lukken' with 'luck'. A 'mistake in luck' leads to 'mislukken'.

Inseparable Prefix

Treat 'mislukken' as one solid block. Unlike 'opbellen' (bel op), you never split 'mislukken'. This makes it easier to conjugate!

Avoid 'Mislukkeling'

Be very careful with the noun 'mislukkeling'. It's a very harsh way to call someone a 'loser' or a 'total failure'. Stick to the verb for situations.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Think of 'Miss' + 'Luck'. If you 'Miss' your 'Luck', your project will 'mislukken'.

視覚的連想

Imagine a chef looking at a 'Misshapen' cake that 'mislukt'. The 'M' in 'Mislukt' stands for 'Mess'.

Word Web

mislukken lukken geluk mislukking falen misgaan zijn poging

チャレンジ

Try to use 'mislukken' in three sentences today: one about food, one about a plan, and one in the past tense with 'zijn'.

語源

Derived from the Middle Dutch word 'mislucken'. It is a combination of the prefix 'mis-' and the verb 'lucken'.

元の意味： To happen in a bad way or to turn out badly.

Germanic (Dutch, related to German 'missglücken').

文化的な背景

Calling a person a 'mislukkeling' (a failure) is a very strong personal insult. Use the verb for tasks, but be careful using the noun for people.

English speakers often use 'fail' for people ('I failed'). In Dutch, you must shift the focus to the task ('Mijn taak is mislukt').

The term 'Mislukte Staat' (Failed State) is a common geopolitical term in Dutch media. Dutch cabaret often uses 'mislukte' social situations for humor. The 'Formatie' (government formation) in the Netherlands is famously 'mislukt' several times in recent years.

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

Cooking

De cake is mislukt.
Het recept is mislukt.
Mijn saus is mislukt.
Waarom mislukt mijn rijst altijd?

Work/Business

Het project is mislukt.
De deal is mislukt.
De onderhandelingen zijn mislukt.
Een mislukte investering.

Politics

De formatie is mislukt.
Het beleid is mislukt.
De vredesmissie is mislukt.
Een mislukte staatsgreep.

Personal Life

Mijn date is mislukt.
Een mislukt huwelijk.
Onze vakantie is mislukt.
Mijn poging om te stoppen met roken is mislukt.

Crime/Police

Een mislukte overval.
De inbraak is mislukt.
Een mislukte ontsnapping.
De aanslag is mislukt.

会話のきっかけ

"Is er wel eens een recept bij jou totaal mislukt?"

"Wat doe jij als een project op je werk dreigt te mislukken?"

"Heb je wel eens een mislukte vakantie gehad door het weer?"

"Waarom mislukken de meeste goede voornemens volgens jou?"

"Kun je een voorbeeld geven van een mislukt experiment?"

日記のテーマ

Schrijf over een keer dat iets wat je probeerde te maken volledig mislukte.

Is een mislukking altijd slecht, of kun je er ook van leren? Leg uit.

Beschrijf een project dat mislukte en wat je de volgende keer anders zou doen.

Wat was de meest memorabele mislukte vakantie die je ooit hebt gehad?

Denk aan een beroemd persoon die eerst mislukte voordat hij of zij succesvol werd.

よくある質問

10 問

No, that is a common mistake. In Dutch, 'mislukken' always takes the auxiliary verb 'zijn'. You should say 'Het is mislukt' or 'Ik ben mislukt in mijn opzet' (though the latter is rare; usually the task is the subject).

'Mislukt' is the past participle or adjective (e.g., een mislukte taart), while 'mislukking' is the noun (e.g., De hele avond was een mislukking).

It is neutral. It can be used for something small like a burnt pancake or something huge like a failed government policy. However, calling a person a 'mislukkeling' is very offensive.

Use the verb 'zakken'. Say: 'Ik ben gezakt voor mijn examen.' Don't use 'mislukken' for this context.

Generally, no. The thing that fails is the subject. 'Mijn poging is mislukt' (My attempt failed). If you want to say a person failed as a leader, use 'falen': 'Hij faalde als leider'.

No, it is inseparable. You never say 'het lukt mis'. It is always 'het mislukt'.

It means to fail completely or utterly. 'Faliekant' is a strong adverb used almost exclusively with 'mislukken' or 'verkeerd'.

The most direct opposite is 'lukken' (to succeed). Other opposites include 'slagen' (to pass/succeed) and 'worden' (in the sense of 'it became something').

Yes, very commonly. For example: 'een mislukte poging' (a failed attempt) or 'een mislukt project' (a failed project).

In Dutch grammar, verbs that indicate a change of state or a result (like 'sterven', 'worden', 'mislukken') use 'zijn' instead of 'hebben'.

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