认输 (rèn shū) — to admit defeat, to concede (in a competition,… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A verb-object phrase: 'to admit defeat' or concede (in a game, argument, etc.). Often pairs with 认 to make the event 认了输 or is used bare as 认输.

verb

to admit defeatto concede (in a competition, argument, or game)

Examples

，认输。
Tā suī rán shū le bǐ sài, dàn jiān jué bù kěn rèn shū.
Although he lost the match, he absolutely refused to admit defeat.
，。
Xià le sān pán qí, tā rèn le liǎng cì shū.
After three games of chess, he conceded twice.
，。
Zài shì shí miàn qián, tā zhōng yú rèn le shū.
Faced with the facts, he finally admitted defeat.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

认 (admit) and 输 (defeat) combine: to admit that one has lost.

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.

讠人认

Meaning part形符xíngfú

讠Written in full as言yánspeech

Sound part声符shēngfú

人

人rén认rèn

Same sound today

The left part 讠 shows speech, and the right part 人 gives the sound.

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 輸; 输 is its simplified writing.

車俞輸

Meaning part形符xíngfú

車車jū

Sound part声符shēngfú

俞

俞yú輸shū

Same sound today

The traditional form 輸 pairs 車 (vehicle) with 俞 for sound; 車 shows the meaning.

Appears in

Conflict & Agreement Success & Failure

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