失势 (shī shì) — to lose power or influence; to fall from grace

Definition

To lose power or position after having it — often through scandal, defeat, or a rival's rise. Typically used for public figures, officials, or leaders rather than ordinary people.

verb
to lose power or influenceto fall from grace
Easily confused

Examples

  • 失势。
    Tā yīn wèi chǒu wén shī shì le.
    He lost power because of a scandal.
  • ，。
    Tā zài gōng sī lǐ shī guò shì, hòu lái yòu huí lái le.
    He once lost power in the company but later came back.
  • 失势。
    Zhè cì xuǎn jǔ ràng tā chè dǐ shī shì.
    This election made him completely lose power.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

失shīlose
势shìpower

失 lose + 势 power: to lose power or influence.

Characters in this word

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 →

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 勢; 势 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìpower
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì勢shì
Same sound today

The traditional form 勢 combines 力, meaning power, with 埶 for the sound. The simplified 势 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 势 →

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