失

shī

丿 + 夫

Definitions

shī (verb) to lose; to miss

shī (verb) to fail

Etymology

Depicts a person with their hair loose. Based on the original meaning "leisure; carefree", now written as 佚. The meaning later shifted to "lose" and "fail".

About

The character 失 originated as a pictograph of a person with unbound hair, embodying the idea of leisure and carefreeness (these senses are now written as 佚). Over time, the meaning drifted to "lose" and "fail", which dominate its modern usage. It appears extensively in compound words, denoting the loss of physical objects, failing to achieve goals, missing opportunities, breaking promises, and making mistakes. The character also extends to abstract losses of control or balance, and is used in expressions for disappointment, disappearance, and deviation from proper procedure.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我失去了我的笔。

Wǒ shīqùle wǒ de bǐ.

I lost my pen.

这次比赛我们失败了。

Zhè cì bǐsài wǒmen shībàile.

We failed this competition.

他对结果感到失望。

Tā duì jiéguǒ gǎndào shīwàng.

He is disappointed with the result.

她失恋后非常伤心。

Tā shīliàn hòu fēicháng shāngxīn.

She was very heartbroken after the breakup.

失业率持续上升。

Shīyè lǜ chíxù shàngshēng.

The unemployment rate continues to rise.

他在关键时刻失手了。

Tā zài guānjiàn shíkè shīshǒule.

He made a mistake at the critical moment.

由于错误，他失去了机会。

Yóuyú cuòwù, tā shīqùle jīhuì.

Due to a mistake, he lost the opportunity.

在公众面前失态会损害形象。

Zài gōngzhòng miànqián shītài huì sǔnhài xíngxiàng.

Losing composure in front of the public can damage one's image.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丿

Component: 夫

Example Words