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输家 (shū jiā) — loser (in a competition, game, or contest)

Definition

Refers to the person or side that loses a contest, negotiation, or gamble — the counterpart to 赢家 ('winner'). Used in games, business, elections, and similar settings.

noun
loser (in a competition, game, or contest)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 输家。
    Zhè chǎng bǐ sài zhǐ yǒu shū jiā méi yǒu yíng jiā.
    In this match, there are only losers, no winners.
  • ，输家。
    Shāng yè tán pàn zhōng, shū jiā wǎng wǎng yào chéng dān gèng duō sǔn shī.
    In business negotiations, the loser often has to bear more losses.
  • ，输家。
    Xuǎn jǔ jié shù hòu, shū jiā dà fāng dì zhù hè le duì shǒu.
    After the election, the loser graciously congratulated the opponent.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

输shūlose
家jiāperson associated

输 (lose) plus 家 (person associated with an action) denotes the one who loses.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 輸; 输 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jū
Sound part声符shēngfú
俞
俞yú輸shū
Same sound today

The traditional form 輸 pairs 車 (vehicle) with 俞 for sound; 車 shows the meaning.

Open 输 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢑓
𢑓𢑓家jiā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The early drawing of 家 showed a roof 宀 over a male-pig sign 𢑓 that gave the pronunciation; the lower part later changed shape.

Open 家 →
Appears in
Success & Failure

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