失败

The most basic meaning of 失败 (shībài) is 'failure' or 'to fail'. It signifies that an attempt, plan, or objective did not achieve the desired or expected outcome. Think of it as the opposite of success.

Generally, no. 失败 implies a significant lack of success or a notable setback. For minor errors, like spilling a drink or forgetting something small, words like 错误 (cuòwù - mistake) or simply describing the action is better. Using 失败 for trivial things sounds overly dramatic.

失败 is inherently a negative word, indicating a lack of success. However, the context can change how it's perceived. Discussing 失败 can lead to learning and growth, making the process of failure a stepping stone rather than a dead end.

Yes, absolutely! It's very common to use 失败 for technical issues. You'll often see messages like '登录失败' (dēnglù shībài - login failed) or '连接失败' (liánjiē shībài - connection failed). It clearly indicates the system action was unsuccessful.

You can use it as a verb or noun. For example, '这个项目失败了' (Zhège xiàngmù shībàile) means 'This project failed'. Or, '这是一个失败的项目' (Zhè shì yīgè shībài de xiàngmù) means 'This is a failed project'. Both clearly state the project's outcome.

Yes, it can be used casually, especially when joking about a mishap or a less serious setback. For instance, if you try a new recipe and it turns out badly, you might say '我做的那个菜失败了!' (Wǒ zuò de nàge cài shībàile!) - 'That dish I made failed!' It adds a bit of dramatic flair.

失败 (shībài) is generally stronger and more definitive, implying a clear lack of success or a significant setback. 没成功 (méi chénggōng), meaning 'not succeeded', is softer and can sometimes imply that success might still be possible or that the attempt wasn't a complete loss.

In very formal contexts, you might encounter phrases like '未达预期目标' (wèi dá yùqī mùbiāo - did not meet expected goals) or '遭遇挫折' (zāoyù cuòzhé - encountered setbacks). However, 失败 itself is widely understood and used across different formality levels.

功亏一篑 (gōng kuī yī kuì) is an idiom meaning 'to fail at the last step' or 'to fall short at the very end'. It's a specific type of 失败 where success was very close but ultimately not achieved, often due to a final mistake.

In exams, 失败 directly means failing the test. You might say '这次考试我失败了' (Zhè cì kǎoshì wǒ shībàile) meaning 'I failed this exam'. It's a straightforward and common usage.

A common mistake is using 失败 for very minor inconveniences, like missing a bus or a slight delay. This makes the statement sound overly dramatic. It's better to use 失败 for more significant outcomes where the intended goal was clearly not met.

It's generally not used to label a person directly as 'a failure' in a permanent sense, as that can be quite harsh. Instead, you'd say the person 'failed at something' (e.g., '他在比赛中失败了' - He failed in the competition). Calling someone a 失败者 (shībàizhě - loser/failure) is possible but carries strong negative judgment.

彻底失败 (chèdǐ shībài) means 'complete failure' or 'utter failure'. The word 彻底 (chèdǐ) intensifies 失败, indicating that there was absolutely no success whatsoever. It's used when something has gone completely wrong.

Yes, besides 没成功 (méi chénggōng), you could say something 'didn't work' using 不行 (bùxíng) or 行不通 (xíng bùtōng). For example, '这个方法不行' (Zhège fāngfǎ bùxíng) means 'This method doesn't work'.

Historically, success in exams and official roles was highly valued in Chinese culture. This context makes 失败 a significant concept, representing not just personal disappointment but potentially social standing. While modern usage is broader, this underlying weight can still be felt.

You can use the word 差点 (chàdiǎn), which means 'almost'. So, '我们差点失败了' (Wǒmen chàdiǎn shībàile) translates to 'We almost failed'. This indicates that success was very close but ultimately not achieved.

Definitely! People often use 失败 humorously to exaggerate minor mishaps, like a failed attempt at a complicated hairstyle or a cooking experiment gone wrong. It's a way to laugh at small setbacks without taking them too seriously.

失败 (shībài) is the outcome – the state of not succeeding. 挫折 (cuòzhé) refers to the setback or frustration experienced during the process, often leading to or resulting from a 失败. You can experience 挫折 on the way to a 失败.

A common translation is '从失败中学习' (cóng shībài zhōng xuéxí). This phrase emphasizes the importance of gaining knowledge and experience from unsuccessful attempts, reflecting a constructive attitude towards setbacks.

Yes, 失败 is frequently used in news reports and formal documents to describe unsuccessful events, projects, or ventures. For example, a report might state '某公司宣布项目失败' (Mǒu gōngsī xuānbù xiàngmù shībài - A certain company announced the project's failure).