失败

Use it as a verb or a noun. You can say a plan was a 失败. Or you can say someone 失败ed at a task. It often pairs with 了 (le) to show the failure already happened. Don't worry about being too poetic. Just drop it into a sentence where things went wrong. It's like saying 'it's a fail' in English.

Use it when results matter. It’s perfect for exams, sports, or business projects. If your sourdough bread looks like a pancake, that's a 失败. If you ask someone out and they say no, that’s also a 失败. It’s common in texting when sharing bad news. It feels honest and relatable.

Avoid using it to describe people as 'losers' directly. Calling a person a 失败者 (shībàizhě) is very harsh. It’s better to focus on the action, not the person. Don't use it for minor social awkwardness. If you tripped on the stairs, it’s just embarrassing, not a 'failure.' Use it for goals that weren't met.

In Chinese culture, there is a famous saying: 'Failure is the mother of success.' This is 失败是成功之母 (shībài shì chénggōng zhī mǔ). It means you should learn from your mistakes. People value persistence. Admitting a 失败 shows you are being realistic. It is the first step to trying again.

For a total disaster, use 大失败 (dà shībài). If you want to sound more formal, use 挫败 (cuòbài) for a setback. In slang, young people might use 'GG' from gaming. But 失败 remains the most versatile. It works in almost every situation. Keep it simple and you'll sound natural.