失败者
shībàizhě
The Chinese word for loser is 失败者 (shībàizhě).
失败者 refers to a person who fails to win. It is typically used in a descriptive, formal or literary sense, such as when referring to the losers of the war.
Meaning: person who fails to win (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 失败 (shībài), meaning 'to fail' and 者 (zhě), a suffix meaning 'person who does something'.
Which one should you use?
While 失败者 is a neutral or formal term for a person who fails, 屌丝 is a slang term used by young people to describe themselves or others as social or economic 'losers' or underdogs. For someone experiencing a streak of misfortunes or who is down and out, the informal term 落魄人 is used. If you want to jokingly refer to someone who lacks intelligence or common sense, you can use the slang 二百五.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
失败者 is a formal or neutral term. For informal contexts, you might use 落魄人 to describe someone's misfortune or the slang 屌丝 for a social underdog. 二百五 is a slang term.
How do you pronounce it?
shībàizhě
Did you know?
- The slang 屌丝 originally had a much more vulgar anatomical connotation before it was transformed into a widespread piece of internet slang for social underdogs.
- The slang term 二百五 (èr bǎi wǔ), literally 'two hundred and fifty', is a way to call someone a 'loser' in terms of intelligence. It implies the person is half-witted or acting foolishly.
- While 'loser' in English often implies a lack of success, the slang 屌丝 (diǎosī) is frequently used by young people as a form of self-deprecation to bond over shared social or economic struggles.
Examples in context
- 你怎么这么落魄啊Why are you so down and out?
- 他承认自己是个失败者。Tā chéngrèn zìjǐ shì gè shībàizhě.He admits that he is a loser.
- 比赛中的失败者也会学习。Bǐsài zhōng de shībàizhě yě huì xuéxí.The losers in the competition will also learn.
- 我不甘心做个失败者。Wǒ bù gānxīn zuò gè shībàizhě.I am not willing to be a loser.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a game they just played.
- 伟 Wei我输了，我真是个失败者。Wǒ shūle, wǒ zhēnshì gè shībàizhě.I lost, I'm such a loser.
- 佳怡 Jiayi伟，别这么说，这只是游戏。Wěi, bié zhème shuō, zhè zhǐshì yóuxì.Wei, don't say that, it's just a game.
- 伟 Wei但我一直没赢过你。Dàn wǒ yīzhí méi yíngguò nǐ.But I've never beaten you.
- 佳怡 Jiayi下次你一定会赢的。Xiàcì nǐ yīdìng huì yíng de.You will definitely win next time.
