Definition
败 (bài) is a versatile verb that can mean either 'to defeat' (active) or 'to be defeated / lose' (passive), depending on context. It is more concise and formal than 打败 (always 'defeat') and 失败 (always 'lose/fail'). In compounds like 击败 or 胜败, 败 retains this dual sense.
verb
to loseto be defeatedto defeatto beatto failto be unsuccessful
Easily confused
- 赛sàilook-aliketo compete
- 白báisound-alike(adjective) white; blank; plain
- 贵guìlook-alikeexpensive
- 摆bǎisound-aliketo arrange, to set out, to display
- 赏shǎnglook-aliketo reward, to bestow (a gift or money from a superior to an inferior)
- 百bǎisound-alikehundred
- 负fùlook-alike(verb) to bear, to carry (a burden, responsibility, debt)
- 掰bāisound-aliketo break off or break open (something) with both hands
- 枚méilook-alike(classifier) for small, flat, or round objects (coins, rings, badges, medals, pearls, etc.)
Examples
- ，败。Zài juésài zhōng, tāmen bài gěi le duìshǒu.In the finals, they lost to their opponent.
- 。Tā chénggōng jībài le duìshǒu.He successfully defeated his opponent.
- 。Zhè cì shíyàn wánquán shībài le.This experiment completely failed.
Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.