Meaning of 损失
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- loss
- damage
- to lose
- to suffer damage
Measure word: 個|个
How to use 损失
损失 works as a noun for money, property, or people lost, and as a verb meaning to suffer a loss. It often appears with 造成 (zàochéng, to cause) or 遭受 (zāoshòu, to suffer). Example: 这场大火造成了很大的损失。(Zhè chǎng dàhuǒ zàochéng le hěn dà de sǔnshī.) This fire caused a great loss.
损 (sǔn) has the hand radical 扌, so picture a hand breaking something, and 失 (shī) means to lose. Damage plus losing gives you 损失, a loss.
Common mistake: Learners often use 损失 for losing small personal items like keys, but that is 丢 (diū) or 丢失. 损失 is for damage or a real cost, like money, property, or business.
损失 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
损 sǔn · to decrease · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
失 shī · to lose · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
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- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 损失.
| 失去 | shīqù | to lose |
| 消失 | xiāoshī | to disappear; to fade away |
| 失败 | shībài | to be defeated; to lose |
| 失望 | shīwàng | disappointed; to lose hope |
| 失业 | shīyè | unemployment; to lose one's job |
| 失误 | shīwù | lapse; mistake |
| 损害 | sǔnhài | harm; to damage |
| 丧失 | sàngshī | to lose; to forfeit |
| 失踪 | shīzōng | to be missing; to disappear |
| 失控 | shīkòng | to go out of control |
| 迷失 | míshī | to get lost; to lose one's bearings |
| 丢失 | diūshī | to lose; to misplace |
Questions about 损失
What does 损失 mean?
损失 (sǔnshī) means "loss; damage" and is used as a verb and noun.
How do you write 损失?
损失 is made of 2 characters: 损 (10 strokes), 失 (5 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 损失 an HSK word?
Yes. 损失 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 损失 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 损失 is written 損失.
What is the difference between 损失 and 失去?
失去 (shīqù) means to lose something you had, like a chance, a friend, or hope, and is not about damage. 损失 focuses on the harm or cost, often measurable, like 经济损失 (jīngjì sǔnshī, economic loss).
How do you say a heavy loss with 损失?
Common phrases are 损失很大 (sǔnshī hěn dà, the loss is large) and 损失惨重 (sǔnshī cǎnzhòng, a heavy loss). You can also say 减少损失 (jiǎnshǎo sǔnshī) to mean reduce losses.