Definition
失利 (shī lì) specifically means to lose or suffer defeat in a competition, match, or conflict – a setback in a contest. Unlike 失败 (shī bài), which is a broader word for failure (any unsuccessful attempt), or 失去 (shī qù), which means to lose something you had, 失利 is the formal opposite of 胜利 (victory) and is used in games, wars, and elections.
verb
to loseto suffer defeat
Easily confused
- 实力shí lìsound-alikeactual strength, capability (of a person, organization, or country)
- 势力shì lìsound-alikepower (especially in a social or political context)
- 视力shì lìsound-alikevision, eyesight
- 失礼shī lǐsound-aliketo act discourteously, to be rude (in a formal or social context)
Examples
- 失利。Tāmen zài juésài zhōng shī lì le.They lost in the finals.
- 失利。Zhè cì tóuzī shī lì ràng tāmen sǔnshī le hěn duō qián.This investment loss caused them to lose a lot of money.
- ，失利。Yóuyú zhànshù shīwù, jūnduì shī lì le.Due to tactical mistakes, the army suffered defeat.
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