TongTong
Sign in

失守 (shī shǒu) — (of a territory, position, etc.) to fall to the enemy, to be lost; (of a person) to fail in one's duty or responsibility

Definition

A formal/written verb for losing a defended place to the enemy, or failing one's duty. Stronger and more literary than ordinary 失败 — specifically implies something you were supposed to hold or protect was taken or given up.

verb
(of a territory, position, etc.) to fall to the enemyto be lost(of a person) to fail in one's duty or responsibility

Examples

  • 失守。
    Zhè zuò chéng shì zhōng yú shī shǒu le.
    This city finally fell to the enemy.
  • 。
    Zhè ge zhèn dì yǐ jīng shī guò sān cì shǒu le.
    This position has fallen three times.
  • 失守，。
    Tā shī shǒu le, méi néng wán chéng zì jǐ de rèn wu.
    He failed in his duty and didn't complete his task.

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
守shǒudefense

失 “lose” and 守 “defense” combine to mean fail to defend a position.

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 →

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

  • 宀宀miánroof; building
  • 寸寸cùnhand

守 pairs 宀, a roof or building, with 寸, a hand, to show a hand guarding a place.

Open 守 →
Appears in
Military & Defense

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.