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遗失 (yí shī) — to lose (something); to leave behind inadvertently

Definition

遗失 (yíshī) is a formal verb for losing or misplacing something — often used for documents, valuables, or items of consequence. It focuses on the object gone, unlike 失去 which is more abstract (losing a person, ability, or chance).

verb
to lose (something)to leave behind inadvertently

Examples

  • 遗失，。
    Wǒ de yào shi yí shī le, jìn bù liǎo jiā mén.
    I lost my keys and can't get into the house.
  • 遗失，。
    Zhè běn gǔ shū yǐ jīng yí shī duō nián, zuì jìn cái bèi fā xiàn.
    This ancient book had been lost for many years and was only recently discovered.
  • ，遗失。
    Lǚ xíng shí yí dìng yào xiǎo xīn, bié yí shī hù zhào.
    When traveling, you must be careful not to lose your passport.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

遗yílose
失shīlose

遗失 combines 遗 (lose) and 失 (lose) to mean lose or leave behind inadvertently.

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 遺; 遗 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòmove
Sound part声符shēngfú
貴
貴guì遺yí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 遺 pairs 辶 (move) with 貴 as a sound part; the simplified 遗 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the old sound part.

Open 遗 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape is explained as a fallen person's footprint surrounded by drops of blood; another reading pairs 手 (hand) and 乙 to show something falling from a hand.

Open 失 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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