What does 败 mean in Chinese?

败 (bài) means "to defeat; to damage; to lose (to an opponent); to fail; to wither" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 6.

How do you pronounce 败?

败 is pronounced "bài" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 4.

What HSK level is 败?

败 is an HSK 6 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 败?

Common words with 败 include 失败 (to be defeated), 倒败 (to collapse (of building)), 胜败 (victory or defeat), 大败 (to defeat), 反腐败 (to oppose corruption).

How do you write 败?

You can practice writing 败 using our stroke order tool.

败 (bài), to defeat

败

bài

to defeat; to damage; to lose (to an opponent); to fail

HSK 6 New to HSKverb

Traditional: 敗

Character Breakdown

Radical: 貝 (no. 154)Traditional: 敗

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to defeat
to damage
to lose (to an opponent)
to fail
to wither

Example Sentences

他们在比赛中败了。

Tāmen zài bǐsài zhōng bài le

They lost the match

Words Containing 败

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
失败	shī bài	to be defeated	HSK 4
倒败	dǎo bài	to collapse (of building)
胜败	shèng bài	victory or defeat
大败	dà bài	to defeat
反腐败	fǎn fǔ bài	to oppose corruption

Related Words

失败(shī bài)· to be defeated

→

一败涂地(yī bài tú dì)· failed and wiped over the floor (idiom); to fail utterly

→

功败垂成(gōng bài chuí chéng)· to fail within sight of success (idiom); last-minute failure

→

壹败涂地(yī bài tú dì)· beaten and wiped over the floor (idiom); to fail utterly

→

Grammar Notes

Even If (即使...也)HSK 4

即使 + Condition, Subject + 也 + Result

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 6
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 4 list

败: New to the HSK lists at HSK 6. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 6 exam

Studying for HSK 6? Keep 败 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 6 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.