chéngbài: 成败 - Success and Failure [Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== chéngbài: 成败 - Success and Failure ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** chengbai, 成败, success and failure, Chinese word for outcome, result in Chinese, what determines success, success or failure meaning, HSK 6 word, Chinese idioms, 成败在此一举, 不计成败, 论成败
  * **Summary:** 成败 (chéngbài) is a fundamental Chinese noun that encapsulates the dual concepts of "success and failure" into a single term. More than just a simple "win or lose," it refers to the ultimate outcome of a significant endeavor, emphasizing the entire spectrum of possibilities. This word is crucial for understanding Chinese perspectives on effort, results, and destiny, and is frequently used in business, personal goals, and historical analysis to discuss matters of consequence.
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>成败</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** chéngbài
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** The outcome of an action, specifically success or failure.
  * **In a Nutshell:** `成败` is a compound noun that combines "success" (成) and "failure" (败) into one concept. It's used when talking about the final result of something important, like a project, a career, or a major life decision. Instead of asking "Will it succeed or fail?", you can discuss "its `成败`." It frames the outcome as a single, weighty question yet to be answered.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **成 (chéng):** This character means "to succeed," "to complete," "to accomplish," or "to become." It signifies the successful completion of an action or the formation of a result.
  * **败 (bài):** This character means "to fail," "to be defeated," or "to lose." The character contains the radical for "shell" (贝), which often relates to valuables, suggesting a loss or ruin.
  * **Combined Meaning:** By placing "succeed" and "fail" together, the word `成败` doesn't just list two opposites. It creates a unified concept representing the entire spectrum of possible outcomes for a significant undertaking. It focuses on the ultimate result, whatever it may be.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, `成败` is a concept deeply tied to philosophies of perseverance, perspective, and sometimes, fate. While success is obviously desired, there is a strong cultural emphasis on the process and the lessons learned, regardless of the outcome. The famous proverb **失败是成功之母 (shībài shì chénggōng zhī mǔ)**, meaning "Failure is the mother of success," perfectly illustrates this mindset. Failure (`败`) is not seen as a final verdict but as an essential stepping stone towards success (`成`).
This contrasts with some Western, particularly American, cultural narratives that can sometimes have a "win-at-all-costs" or "winner-take-all" mentality. While both cultures value success, the Chinese concept of `成败` often carries a broader, more philosophical view. It acknowledges that external factors, effort, and timing all contribute to the final result. Discussing `成败` is often a way to reflect on the entirety of an effort, not just to celebrate a win or mourn a loss. It encourages a long-term perspective where a single failure doesn't define a person, and a single success isn't the end of the journey.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
`成败` is a common but somewhat formal term used when the stakes are high. It's not for everyday, trivial matters.
  * **In Business and Career:** It's frequently used to discuss the outcome of a major project, a business negotiation, or a company's future. A boss might say the `成败` of a new product launch rests on the marketing team's performance.
  * **In Personal Goals:** It applies to significant life events like the university entrance exam (高考 gāokǎo), a major competition, or a critical career move.
  * **In Historical and Strategic Discussions:** `成败` is the perfect word to analyze the outcome of a battle, a political reform, or an emperor's reign.
The tone is generally serious and weighty. Using it for something minor would sound overly dramatic.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 我们这次合作的**成败**非常关键。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen zhè cì hézuò de **chéngbài** fēicháng guānjiàn.
    * English: The success or failure of our collaboration this time is extremely critical.
    * Analysis: This is a typical business context. `成败` is used as a noun to refer to the overall outcome of the "collaboration" (合作).
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 决定战争**成败**的因素有很多。
    * Pinyin: Juédìng zhànzhēng **chéngbài** de yīnsù yǒu hěnduō.
    * English: There are many factors that determine the success or failure of a war.
    * Analysis: Here, `成败` is used in a historical or strategic context. It treats the outcome of the war as a single concept to be analyzed.
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 做事要尽力，不要太在意**成败**。
    * Pinyin: Zuòshì yào jìnlì, bùyào tài zàiyì **chéngbài**.
    * English: When you do things, you should do your best and not care too much about success or failure.
    * Analysis: This sentence reflects the cultural value of focusing on effort over results. It advises a philosophical attitude towards the outcome.
  * **Example 4:** 
    * **成败**在此一举，我们必须全力以赴！
    * Pinyin: **Chéngbài** zài cǐ yī jǔ, wǒmen bìxū quánlì yǐ fù!
    * English: Success or failure hangs on this one move, we must give it our all!
    * Analysis: This uses a very common and powerful idiom (`成败在此一举`) to highlight a crucial, make-or-break moment.
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 他把个人的**成败**看得很淡。
    * Pinyin: Tā bǎ gèrén de **chéngbài** kàn de hěn dàn.
    * English: He has a very light (indifferent) view of personal success and failure.
    * Analysis: This describes a person's character or mindset. "看得很淡" (kàn de hěn dàn) means "to not take something too seriously."
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 这个项目的**成败**关系到公司的未来。
    * Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù de **chéngbài** guānxì dào gōngsī de wèilái.
    * English: The success or failure of this project affects the company's future.
    * Analysis: The phrase `关系到` (guānxì dào) means "relates to" or "has implications for," showing the high stakes associated with the project's outcome.
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 历史从不以**成败**论英雄。
    * Pinyin: Lìshǐ cóng bù yǐ **chéngbài** lùn yīngxióng.
    * English: History never judges a hero by their success or failure.
    * Analysis: This is a philosophical statement suggesting that a person's true worth or heroism isn't determined solely by whether they ultimately won or lost. `以...论...` (yǐ...lùn...) is a pattern meaning "to judge...by...".
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 不计**成败**，只求无悔。
    * Pinyin: Bùjì **chéngbài**, zhǐ qiú wú huǐ.
    * English: Disregard success or failure, just seek to have no regrets.
    * Analysis: A common and inspiring phrase. `不计` (bùjì) means "to not calculate" or "to disregard," emphasizing the importance of the experience itself.
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 细节决定**成败**。
    * Pinyin: Xìjié juédìng **chéngbài**.
    * English: Details determine success or failure.
    * Analysis: A very popular modern saying in China, often used in business and education to stress the importance of being meticulous.
  * **Example 10:** 
    * 没人能预料这件事的最终**成败**。
    * Pinyin: Méi rén néng yùliào zhè jiàn shì de zuìzhōng **chéngbài**.
    * English: No one can predict the final outcome (success or failure) of this matter.
    * Analysis: `最终的成败` (zuìzhōng de chéngbài) emphasizes the "final" or "ultimate" outcome, highlighting the uncertainty involved.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Don't use it for trivial matters.** The most common mistake for learners is using `成败` for small, everyday tasks. It sounds overly dramatic and even comical.
    * **Incorrect:** 今天的蛋糕做得怎么样？真是**成败**在此一举！ (How's today's cake? Success or failure really hangs on this!)
    * **Why it's wrong:** Making a cake isn't a high-stakes endeavor. It's too grand a term.
    * **Better:** 今天的蛋糕能不能做好就看这次了！ (Whether this cake can be made well depends on this attempt!)
  * **`成败` vs. `结果 (jiéguǒ)`:** `结果` simply means "result" or "outcome" and is neutral. `成败` specifically refers to the outcome on the spectrum of success and failure. If you just want to know the result of a scientific experiment (which could be neutral or unexpected), you'd ask for the `结果`. If you're talking about whether the experiment *achieved its goal*, you'd discuss its `成败`.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[成功]] (chénggōng) - Noun/Verb for "success" or "to succeed." It is the positive half of `成败`.
  * [[失败]] (shībài) - Noun/Verb for "failure" or "to fail." It is the negative half of `成败`.
  * [[结果]] (jiéguǒ) - A neutral term for "result" or "outcome," which lacks the strong success/failure connotation of `成败`.
  * [[胜败]] (shèngbài) - "Victory and defeat." Very similar to `成败`, but more commonly used in the context of direct competition, battles, or sports.
  * [[得失]] (déshī) - "Gains and losses." This term focuses on what was gained versus what was lost during a process, often used in personal reflection.
  * [[命运]] (mìngyùn) - "Fate" or "destiny." In Chinese thought, `命运` is often considered a powerful, unseen force that can influence one's `成败`.
  * [[结局]] (jiéjú) - "Ending" or "final result," typically used for stories, movies, or relationships.
  * [[功亏一篑]] (gōngkuīyīkuì) - A chengyu (idiom) meaning "to fall short of success at the last step." It describes a specific type of failure.