verb HSK 4
to lose · to miss · to fail
Meaning
失 is a common character meaning to lose, miss, or fail to obtain something. It often appears in compound words related to loss, failure, or absence. As a standalone character, it can mean to lose possession of something or to miss an opportunity.
Usage
失 is rarely used alone in modern Mandarin and typically appears in compound words like 失败 (to fail), 失去 (to lose), 失望 (disappointed), or 失业 (unemployed). When used independently, it tends to appear in more formal or literary contexts.
Examples
- 01他失去了最好的朋友。.He lost his best friend.
- 02这次考试我失败了。.I failed this exam.
Common collocations
- 失眠insomnia
- 失信to break one's promise
- 失踪to go missing
- 失控to lose control
Antonyms
Origin
The character 失 originally depicted a hand dropping or losing something, representing the concept of loss or failure to grasp.