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失误 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
失误shīwùlapseHSK 5, v, rank #5274, Hard
失误shīwùmistakeHSK 5, v, rank #5274, Hard
失误shīwùto make a mistakeHSK 5, v, rank #5274, Hard
失误shīwùfaultHSK 5, v, rank #5274, Hard
失误shīwùservice fault (in volleyball, tennis etc)HSK 5, v, rank #5274, Hard
shīwù(shi1wu4) T1
  1. 1lapse
  2. 2mistake
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
失误(失誤)shīwù(shi1wu4)

失误 (shī wù) refers to a mistake or error that occurs due to oversight or lapse in judgment. It is commonly used in both everyday situations and specific contexts like sports to denote a service fault or blunder. The term implies an unintended action rather than a deliberate fault.

Frequency#5274DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In sports like volleyball and tennis, 失误 plays a significant role in the game, impacting scores and player morale. Recognizing mistakes in competitive settings is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, which values self-improvement and accountability.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person losing their way ('失' means to lose) because they made a wrong turn ('误' sounds like 'oops' in English). Picture them standing at a crossroads, confused, which helps link the character's meaning of making a mistake or error.

Meanings of 失误

shīwù(shi1wu4)
1lapse
2mistake
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 失误

失误Simplified
失誤Traditional
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5274Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 失误

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Podcast: 失误

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AI Study Notes for 失误

Quick Contrast

错误 (cuòwù) refers to a mistake that may involve a conscious decision or choice, while 失误 (shīwù) emphasizes an unintentional oversight.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person losing their way ('失' means to lose) because they made a wrong turn ('误' sounds like 'oops' in English). Picture them standing at a crossroads, confused, which helps link the character's meaning of making a mistake or error.

Usage Notes

Learners should note that 失误 is typically used in more formal contexts, especially in discussions of performance or analysis. Common collocations include 失误率 (error rate) and 失误行为 (mistaken behavior). Be careful not to confuse it with 错误 (cuò wù), which can imply a more serious or deliberate mistake.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 失误 connects with other advanced vocabulary that deals with judgment and performance, such as 评估 (evaluate) and 判断 (judge). Students should focus on context and the difference between casual and formal language when using this term.

Cultural Note

In sports like volleyball and tennis, 失误 plays a significant role in the game, impacting scores and player morale. Recognizing mistakes in competitive settings is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, which values self-improvement and accountability.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 失误 with 错误, using them interchangeably when they actually have different nuances. For example, saying '我犯了一个失误' (I made a mistake) is correct, while '我犯了一个错误' could imply a more significant or intentional error.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 失误

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Component Characters

shīto lose
5 strokes
View full entry
mistake
HSK 69 strokes
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Write 失误

Practice writing 失误 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 失误

失误 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

她在比赛中频频____,最终遗憾落败。

She made repeated mistakes during the competition and ultimately lost regrettably.

Example Sentences for 失误 (4)

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1
我相信这只不过是一次失误。

wǒ xiāng xìn zhè zhī bù guò shì yī cì shī wù。

I'm sure it was just some sort of mix-up.
2
娜奥米在失误面前表现得处乱不惊,给贝丝留下了深刻印象。

nà ào mǐ zài shī wù miàn qián biǎo xiàn dé chǔ luàn bù jīng, , gěi bèi sī liú xià le shēn kè yìn。

Beth was struck by how Naomi took the mistake in her stride.
3
他管理上的重大失误使公司陷入亟须重组的境地。

tā guǎn lǐ shàng de zhòng dà shī wù shǐ gōng sī xiàn rù jí xū zhòng zǔ de jìng dì。

His gross misman-agement left the company desperately in need of restructuring.
4
前锋艾伦·史密斯两次严重失误,将球射偏。

qián fēng ài lún· · shǐ mì sī liǎng cì yán zhòng shī, wù , jiāng qiú。

Striker Alan Smith was guilty of two glaring misses.

Cultural Notes for 失误

🏮Cultural insight

In sports like volleyball and tennis, 失误 plays a significant role in the game, impacting scores and player morale. Recognizing mistakes in competitive settings is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, which values self-improvement and accountability.

Frequently Asked Questions about 失误

While it's more formal, you can use it in casual settings when discussing mistakes, especially in sports or work.