失 means “lose, mistake”

しつ · shitsu

Also: error, fault, disadvantage

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

うしなう, うせる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シツ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 5 strokes

The story

A hand (手) with something slipping out between the fingers: losing your grip. 失礼します, literally "I lose my manners", is said on entering or leaving an office, and 失敗 is a failure.

Used in 失礼 (shitsurei, rudeness/excuse me), 失敗 (shippai, failure), and 失う (ushinau, to lose)

More from Victory & Defeat

• 段 step
• 敗 defeat
• 突 thrust
• 破 tear
• 抜 pull out
• 努 effort
• 倒 fall
• 戦 fight
• 勝 win
• 打 hit
• 争 compete
• 位 rank

Learn 失 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

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