Meaning
战败 means to lose in a military conflict or battle. It combines 战 (war/battle) and 败 (to be defeated/to lose), creating a term specifically for military or competitive defeat. This word carries a more formal or serious tone than casual expressions of losing.
Usage
战败 is primarily used in formal contexts like historical accounts, news reports about wars, or discussions of military strategy. It emphasizes the outcome of armed conflict rather than personal failure. In modern usage, it can also describe losing in competitive contexts like sports tournaments when framed in military metaphors, though 失败 or 输 are more common for non-military contexts.
Examples
- 01这个国家在第二次世界大战中战败了。' .This country was defeated in World War II.
- 02他们的军队战败后被迫签订了不平等条约。.After their army was defeated, they were forced to sign an unequal treaty.
Characters
Common collocations
- 战败国defeated nation
- 惨遭战败to suffer a crushing defeat
- 战败后after being defeated in battle
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters have ancient origins. 战 originally depicted weapons in combat, while 败 showed the scattering or breaking apart that comes with defeat.