A1 noun Neutral #2,619 most common

失敗

shippai /ɕip̚pai/

A noun meaning failure or a mistake made when something does not go as planned. It is very commonly used with the verb 'suru' to mean 'to fail' or 'to make a mistake' in various situations.

Examples

3 of 5
1

料理で失敗しました。

I made a mistake while cooking.

2

今回の計画は失敗に終わりました。

This plan ended in failure.

3

あ、また失敗しちゃった!

Oh, I messed up again!

Word Family

Noun
失敗
Verb
失敗する
Related
失敗談
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Memory Tip

Imagine you are carrying a 'Ship' full of 'Pies' (Shi-Pai), but the ship sinks. What a huge failure!

Quick Quiz

昨日のテストは(  )しました。とても難しかったです。

Correct!

The correct answer is: 失敗

Examples

1

料理で失敗しました。

everyday

I made a mistake while cooking.

2

今回の計画は失敗に終わりました。

formal

This plan ended in failure.

3

あ、また失敗しちゃった!

informal

Oh, I messed up again!

4

科学者は実験の失敗から多くのことを学びます。

academic

Scientists learn many things from the failure of experiments.

5

このプロジェクトを失敗させるわけにはいきません。

business

We cannot afford to let this project fail.

Word Family

Noun
失敗
Verb
失敗する
Related
失敗談

Common Collocations

失敗を恐れる to be afraid of failure
失敗から学ぶ to learn from failure
大失敗する to fail miserably
失敗を認める to admit a mistake
失敗を繰り返す to repeat a mistake

Common Phrases

失敗は成功の基

Failure is the stepping stone to success.

失敗を恐れるな

Don't be afraid of failure.

手痛い失敗

A painful/costly mistake.

Often Confused With

失敗 vs 間違い (machigai)

'Machigai' is a specific error or wrong answer (like 1+1=3), while 'Shippai' is the failure of an action or event.

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Usage Notes

It can describe a small personal error or a large-scale project failure. When used as a verb, 'shippai shita' is the standard past tense form.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use it for simple typos in writing where 'machigai' or 'misu' would be more natural.

💡

Memory Tip

Imagine you are carrying a 'Ship' full of 'Pies' (Shi-Pai), but the ship sinks. What a huge failure!

📖

Word Origin

Composed of the kanji 失 (lose/miss) and 敗 (be defeated/fail).

Grammar Patterns

Noun + する = to fail (suru-verb) ~に失敗する = to fail at (something) 失敗に終わる = to end in failure
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Cultural Context

In Japanese culture, failure is often followed by a formal apology (owabi), but the proverb 'Shippai wa seikou no moto' is widely taught to encourage resilience.

Quick Quiz

昨日のテストは(  )しました。とても難しかったです。

Correct!

The correct answer is: 失敗

Related Phrases

Related Words

協力

A1

Cooperation or collaboration where two or more people combine their efforts to achieve a common goal. It is used in both personal and professional settings to describe working together as a team or providing assistance.

提案

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A suggestion or proposal of a plan or idea for others to consider. It is used in both casual conversations and professional meetings to introduce a potential course of action.

輸出

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The act of sending goods or services produced in one country to another country for sale or trade. In Japanese, it functions as a noun and a suru-verb, representing the 'exit' of products from a domestic market.

輸入

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The act of bringing goods, services, or materials into a country from abroad for sale or use. In Japanese, it functions as a noun or can be combined with 'suru' to become a verb meaning 'to import'.

資源

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Shigen refers to valuable materials or assets, such as natural minerals, energy sources, or human talent, that can be used for production or survival. It is widely used in economics, environmental science, and daily life to describe both raw materials and abstract wealth.

保護

A1

The act of keeping someone or something safe from harm, damage, or loss by providing care or creating boundaries. It is a versatile term in Japanese used for social welfare, environmental conservation, and digital security.

観察

A1

Observation is the act of watching someone or something carefully in order to gain information or understand a process. It is frequently used in scientific studies, nature analysis, and describing the act of paying close attention to details.

競争

A1

Kyousou refers to the act of competing or vying with others to achieve a goal, win a prize, or establish superiority. It is a versatile term used in sports, business, and academics to describe both structured contests and general rivalry.

拡大

A1

The act of making something larger in size, scale, or scope. It is frequently used for physical enlargement (like a photo) or abstract growth (like a business or a problem).

製造

A1

The process of making or producing goods, typically on a large scale using machinery. It refers specifically to industrial manufacturing rather than making things by hand on a small scale.

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