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损失 (sǔn shī) — (noun) loss, damage; (verb) to lose, to suffer damage

Definition

As a noun, 损失 means 'loss' or 'damage' — a general term for something lost, used for money, business, or people. More specific than 受损 ('to be damaged'): 损失 emphasizes the thing or amount lost, while 损伤 focuses on harm to a person or object.

noun
lossdamage
verb
to loseto suffer damage
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 损失。
    Zhè chǎng dà huǒ zào chéng le jù dà de sǔn shī.
    This big fire caused a huge loss.
  • 损失。
    Wǒ men bù xiǎng sǔn shī rèn hé yí wèi gù kè.
    We don't want to lose any customer.
  • 损失。
    Zhè cì tóu zī méi yǒu sǔn shī.
    This investment did not suffer any loss.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

损sǔndamage
失shīlose

损 and 失 both convey losing, giving the sense of loss or damage.

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 損; 损 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
員
員yuán損sǔn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 損 pairs 手 (hand) with 員 as a sound part; the simplified 损 is a later shorthand, so its visible parts are not the original components.

Open 损 →

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 →
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