Meaning
败北 literally means 'defeated north' and refers to losing a battle, game, or competition. In ancient Chinese military terminology, a retreating army was said to face north (away from the enemy), hence the association with defeat. Today it's used in both literal military contexts and figuratively for any competitive loss.
Usage
This is a somewhat formal or literary term more common in written Chinese, news reports, and sports commentary than everyday conversation. Native speakers might use simpler words like 输 (shū) in casual speech. It emphasizes the definitive nature of the defeat and carries a serious tone.
Examples
- 01我们队在决赛中败北了。.Our team was defeated in the finals.
- 02尽管准备充分，他还是在这场比赛中败北。, .Despite being well prepared, he still lost in this competition.
Characters
Common collocations
- 败北而归to return in defeat
- 惨败北to suffer a crushing defeat
Antonyms
Origin
The word originates from ancient Chinese military strategy where a defeated army would retreat northward, turning their backs to the enemy. Thus 'north' became synonymous with defeat and retreat.