敗 means “defeat, failure”

はい · hai

Also: reversal

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

やぶれる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ハイ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 11 strokes

The story

A hand striking (攵) a precious cowrie shell (貝) until it cracks: something of value ruined. 失敗 is a failure or mistake, 勝敗 the win or loss, and the saying 失敗は成功のもと calls failure the root of success.

Used in 失敗 (shippai, failure/mistake), 勝敗 (shouhai, victory or defeat), and 敗北 (haiboku, defeat)

More from Victory & Defeat

• 突 thrust
• 破 tear
• 抜 pull out
• 努 effort
• 倒 fall
• 戦 fight
• 勝 win
• 打 hit
• 争 compete
• 位 rank
• 格 status
• 球 ball

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.