Meaning
Hello there, language learner! Today, we're diving into the kanji 失, an N3 level character that's super useful for expressing ideas of loss, mistakes, and disadvantages. Its core meanings revolve around 'to lose,' 'to miss,' 'fault,' 'error,' and 'disadvantage.'
When we talk about the origin of 失, it's quite fascinating! This kanji is thought to be an ideograph depicting a hand letting something slip away or fall. Imagine a hand (which is represented by a modified form of 又, the right hand radical, in some ancient scripts) dropping an object, resulting in a 'loss' or 'missing' target. Another interpretation connects the top part (a variant of 士, scholar/samurai, with an extra stroke) to an arrow or something aimed, and the bottom part (夫, husband/man) to a person. The combined image then conveys the idea of something being 'lost' or 'missing its mark.' The radical, 亅 (hanebou), often represents a hook or a falling stroke, further emphasizing the idea of something slipping or dropping.
This kanji has 5 strokes and is taught in the 6th grade in Japanese schools, making it a common sight as you progress through your Japanese studies, especially at the N3 level.
Readings
Understanding how 失 is read is key to using it effectively. It has both On'yomi (Chinese-derived) and Kun'yomi (native Japanese) readings.
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary On'yomi for 失 is シツ (shitsu). This reading is most commonly used when 失 appears as part of a compound word, especially to express notions of 'losing,' 'failure,' 'fault,' or 'error.' It often carries a negative connotation, indicating something went wrong or was forfeited.
- 失敗 (shippai) — This means failure or mistake. It's a very common word you'll hear in daily life, like when you make a blunder.
- 損失 (sonshitsu) — This refers to a loss, often financial or material. Think of a business incurring a loss.
- 失礼 (shitsurei) — Meaning rudeness or discourtesy, literally "loss of politeness." You often hear it when someone apologizes for being rude or when excusing oneself.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The main Kun'yomi for 失 is うしな.う (ushina.u). This is typically used as a verb in its standalone form, 失う. It's a transitive verb that means 'to lose,' 'to part with,' 'to miss (an opportunity),' or 'to forfeit.' It describes the act of something going missing or being taken away from you.
- 失う (ushinau) — The verb itself, meaning to lose something tangible or intangible. For example, losing your wallet.
- 機会を失う (kikai wo ushinau) — To miss an opportunity. A crucial phrase for expressing missed chances.
- 希望を失う (kibou wo ushinau) — To lose hope. This describes a more abstract, emotional loss.
Common Words & Compounds
Let's look at some more common words and compounds using 失. You'll find these frequently in various contexts, from daily conversation to news reports.
Actions & Consequences:
- 失敗 (shippai) — failure, mistake. (e.g., a test failure)
- 失礼 (shitsurei) — rudeness, discourtesy. (e.g., apologizing for being rude)
- 失踪 (shissou) — disappearance (of a person). (e.g., a missing person case)
- 失脚 (shikkyaku) — downfall, loss of position. (e.g., a politician's downfall)
- 失望 (shitsubou) — disappointment, despair. (e.g., feeling disappointed by results)
Loss & Deprivation:
- 損失 (sonshitsu) — loss (financial, material). (e.g., business losses)
- 喪失 (soushitsu) — loss, forfeiture (often of abstract things like identity, memory). (e.g., loss of memory)
- 失業 (shitsugyou) — unemployment. (e.g., a period of unemployment)
- 失神 (shisshin) — faint, swoon. (e.g., to faint from exhaustion)
- 失明 (shitsumei) — blindness, loss of eyesight. (e.g., an accident causing blindness)
- 失格 (shikkaku) — disqualification, failure. (e.g., being disqualified from a competition)
- 失語症 (shitsugoshou) — aphasia (loss of speech). (e.g., a medical condition affecting speech)
Example Sentences
Let's see 失 in action with some natural Japanese sentences!
鍵を失ってしまって、家に入れません。
Kagi wo ushinatte shimatte, ie ni hairemasen.
I lost my key and can't get into the house.
試合に失敗しましたが、次は頑張ります。
Shiai ni shippai shimashita ga, tsugi wa ganbarimasu.
I failed the game, but I'll try my best next time.
ご迷惑おかけして、大変失礼いたしました。
Gomeiwaku okakeshite, taihen shitsurei itashimashita.
I apologize for the great inconvenience I caused.
彼は事故で記憶の一部を喪失しました。
Kare wa jiko de kioku no ichibu wo soushitsu shimashita.
He lost part of his memory in the accident.
会社の倒産で、多大な損失が出ました。
Kaisha no tousan de, tadai na sonshitsu ga demashita.
The company's bankruptcy resulted in a significant loss.
新しい仕事を見つけるまで、彼は失業中です。
Atarashii shigoto wo mitsukeru made, kare wa shitsugyouchuu desu.
He is currently unemployed until he finds a new job.
何度も失敗しても、夢を失わないでください。
Nando mo shippai shitemo, yume wo ushinawanaide kudasai.
Even if you fail many times, please don't lose your dream.
チャンスを失わないように、今すぐ行動しましょう。
Chansu wo ushinawanai you ni, ima sugu koudou shimashou.
Let's act now so we don't miss the chance.
彼の発言に皆が失望しました。
Kare no hatsugen ni mina ga shitsubou shimashita.
Everyone was disappointed by his remark.
交通違反で運転免許を失効しました。
Koutsuu ihan de untenmenkyo wo shikkou shimashita.
My driver's license expired due to a traffic violation.
Memory Tip
To help you remember 失, imagine this: The kanji looks a bit like a person (夫, or a variation of it, forming the lower part) trying to catch something (the top part, which resembles an arrow or something falling quickly from above, like 士 with an extra stroke). But alas, they completely miss their grasp, and the object is irrevocably 'lost' or 'slips away.' You could also think of an archer whose arrow (the top part) 'slips' from their hand (implied by the radical 亅) before being shot, causing them to 'miss' the target. That feeling of something just barely escaping your control is central to 失's meaning!