敗
failure, defeat, reversal
Readings
On'yomi
- ハイ
Kun'yomi
- やぶ.れる
Meaning
敗 centers on losing or being overturned: failure, defeat, or a reversal of fortune. The idea is that something is broken or turned against its intended outcome.
Most common words using 敗
20 of 100- 失敗しっぱいN4
failure; mistake; blunder
- 敗はい
loss; defeat
- 敗北はいぼくN1
defeat; loss; reverse; setback
- 敗戦はいせんN1
defeat; lost battle; losing a war
- 腐敗ふはいN1
decomposition; putrefaction; putrescence; spoilage
- 敗れるやぶれるN2
to be defeated; to be beaten; to be unsuccessful; to lose
- 連敗れんぱい
consecutive defeats; series of defeats
- 敗者はいしゃ
loser; defeated person; the defeated
- 敗退はいたい
being defeated; being eliminated (from competition)
- 勝敗しょうはいN2
victory or defeat; outcome (of a game, battle, etc.)
- 惨敗ざんぱい
ignominious defeat; crushing failure; utterly beaten; overwhelming defeat
- 完敗かんぱいN1
(suffering a) complete defeat; utter defeat; annihilation
- 無敗むはい
undefeated
- 大敗たいはい
crushing defeat
- 敗訴はいそ
loss of a (legal) case
- 成敗せいはい
success and failure
- 成敗せいばい
punishment; judgement; judgment
- 敗因はいいん
cause of defeat
- 不敗ふはい
undefeated; unbeatable; invincible
- 全敗ぜんぱい
complete defeat; losing all of one's matches; finishing the tournament with no wins
Study
Etymology
敗 combines 貝 (shell, valuable) with 攵 (strike, action), suggesting the idea of striking or breaking something valuable, leading to ruin or defeat.
Meaning mnemonic
Imagine a precious shell (貝) being struck (攵) and shattered, representing failure and defeat.
Reading mnemonic
For ハイ, picture a defeated warrior letting out a heavy sigh: 'Hai...' The sigh sounds like ハイ and captures the feeling of failure.