About
The character 输, whose traditional form is 輸, is a phono-semantic compound composed of the semantic component 車 (vehicle, related to transport) and the phonetic component 俞. Its original core meaning was "to transport" or "to convey", logically extending from the function of a vehicle. From this concrete sense of moving something from one place to another, the character developed the abstract meaning "to contribute" or "to devote", as in contributing resources. A significant semantic shift occurred as the term was metaphorically applied to competitive contexts, such as games, battles, or gambling, where contributing or handing over something, often money or advantage, to another party came to mean "to lose". Consequently, 输 now primarily carries the dual meanings of "to transport" and "to be defeated", with the latter being its most common usage in modern language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我们输掉了比赛。
他输给了强大的对手。
运输这些物资需要三天。
请输入您的个人信息。
输电线跨越了整座山脉。
这次比赛我们输得心服口服。
不断输血的伤员终于脱离了危险。
即使输了选举，他也不会输掉民众的支持。