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道Nihongo Path
失

失·lose, miss, fault

On-yomi
シツ
Kun-yomi
うしなう

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

5 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
失ううしなうto lose (something abstract)
失敗しっぱいfailure, mistake
失礼しつれいrudeness; excuse me
失業しつぎょうunemployment

Example sentences

  1. 何度も失敗しましたが、諦めません。

    なんどもしっぱいしましたが、あきらめません。

    I've failed many times, but I won't give up.

  2. 失礼ですが、お名前は何ですか。

    しつれいですが、おなまえはなんですか。

    Excuse me, but what is your name?

  3. 事故で仕事を失いました。

    じこでしごとをうしないました。

    I lost my job because of the accident.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 失敗 as *しつばい — it shortens to しっぱい
  • Using 失う for a dropped object; for things you mislay, なくす is the natural verb

Memory aid

Picture it

矢 (arrow) with the top stroke slipping out — the arrow has left your hand and is gone.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 失 mean?