HanziGuru.败 · bài
败
bài[bai4]Tone 4

to defeat, to fail, to lose

HSK 4
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敗
Guru Deep Dive

English · to defeat, to fail, to lose

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Topology:Left-right
Strokes:9
Writing Balance Rule: The left side (贝) is narrower and slightly lower, while the right side (攴/攵 - hand holding a whip or stick) is taller and claims the dominant vertical space on the right.
Simplification Logic: The traditional character 敗 uses 攴 on the right, while the simplified form 败 retains the same right component (攵) and simplifies the left side's complex shell structure to 贝.
1. Meaning

to defeat, to lose to an opponent, or to fail

to damage or ruin (reputation, morals)to wither or decay
VerbNeutral#competition#conflict#failure#status
Sample Usage
  • 这场比赛我们败了。
    zhè chǎng bǐsài wǒmen bài le.
    We lost this match.
  • 失败乃成功之母。
    shībài nǎi chénggōng zhī mǔ.
    Failure is the mother of success.
2. Sound
/[paɪ̯⁵¹]/Tone: 51
败
bàibai4
++
`(51)
=bài
Initial Consonant
b
Type: Unaspirated Bilabial
Sounds like: English 'b' as in 'bat'
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: No burst of air. A tissue in front of lips should stay still.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Both lips press together gently and release with a voice burst.
Final Rhyme
ai
Vowel Group: -a vowel group
Sounds like: -ai rhymes with 'eye' or 'high'
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'eye'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T4 (51)
4th Tone (High-Falling)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and plunges sharply down to the floor, identical to saying 'No!' or 'Stop!' in English with strong emphasis.
👂
Listening trap: Do not confuse Tone 4 (bài, falling) with Tone 2 (bái, rising) or Tone 3 (bǎi, dipping). Tone 4 starts high and plunges straight down like a falling object.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: A sharp, definitive chop downward with your hand, mirroring a judge's gavel striking the desk on a falling note.
3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 9 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left side (贝) is narrower and slightly lower, while the right side (攴/攵 - hand holding a whip or stick) is taller and claims the dominant vertical space on the right.

Simplification Logic: The traditional character 敗 uses 攴 on the right, while the simplified form 败 retains the same right component (攵) and simplifies the left side's complex shell structure to 贝.

4. Components

Radical 贝 · Shell Radical (money, cowrie shell, wealth)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 贝 (Originally associated with valuables, goods, or material standing.)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 攴 (original sound: pū / pu)

A hand holding a stick or whip (攵) striking or hitting money/valuables (贝), causing wealth to scatter, be lost, or defeated.

  • 贝 Shell / Wealth
  • 攵 Hand with a stick / Action of striking
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally a compound ideogram in bronze inscriptions, combining a shell (representing wealth and possessions) and a hand with a beating stick, representing loss of property or being beaten in battle.

Semantic Evolution: From the physical striking and loss of possessions or defeat in battle, it broadened to mean any failure, defeat, or damage.

  • In ancient China, cowrie shells served as currency, so damaging or losing shells meant financial ruin.
6. Sinosphere
🇻🇳
Sino-Vietnamese
bại
Corresponds to the Vietnamese heavy falling tone (nặng) or dipping tone.
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: ハイ / Kun: やぶ.る
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
패
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

Imagine losing your entire fortune (贝 shell money) because a strict boss struck your desk with a ruler (攵 hand with a stick), resulting in total failure and defeat (bài).

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
辈
bèigeneration, lifetimeBuilt on top of 非 for generations of people.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
贝(bèi)
贝 is just the single shell radical (wealth), whereas 败 adds the striking hand component (攵) on the right to signify defeat.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
这场比赛我们[___]了，下次一定要赢回来。
Clue: bài
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the right-hand component (攵) with similar components like 文, leading to incorrect stroke order and proportions.

Memory Prompts
Recognition: When you see 败, what does it mean and how is it pronounced?
Production: How do you write the character for 'to defeat / to fail' (bài)?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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