failure

/ˈfeɪljə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfeɪljər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfāl-yər/ (ame, mw)

failure — 名詞

  • failuresingular
  • failuresplural

1. a situation where a person or group misses a goal they aimed for, or a plan that

1.名詞B1
釋義

失敗

未達到預期目標或結果

a situation where a person or group misses a goal they aimed for, or a plan that does not deliver the result it was expected to

例句

After three attempts, Dario accepted his failure to pass the driving test.

經過三次嘗試後，Dario 接受了自己未能通過駕照考試的事實。

failure + to-infinitive

The team's repeated failures in the tournament led to a change of coach.

該隊伍在比賽中一再失敗，導致教練被更換。

collocation: repeated failures

同義詞
  • lack of success

    more literal and formal; describes the outcome without judgment

  • defeat

    specifically about losing in a competition, contest, or battle

  • setback

    a temporary failure that does not mean total loss; milder in connotation

反義詞
  • success

    the opposite — achieving a desired goal

文法句型

failure + to-infinitive

failure + in + noun/gerund

adjective + failure

用法筆記

Countable when referring to a specific unsuccessful attempt (e.g. 'the experiment was a failure'); uncountable when speaking about the abstract concept (e.g. 'fear of failure').

常見錯誤

❌His failure for the exam upset him.
✅His failure in the exam upset him.
💡use 'in' not 'for' when naming the area where success was missed.
❌The project was a fail.
✅The project was a failure.
💡'fail' is a verb; the noun form is 'failure'.

2. an occasion when someone does not carry out a task, follow a rule, or meet an ob

2.名詞B2
釋義

未履行

未做應盡或應做之事

an occasion when someone does not carry out a task, follow a rule, or meet an obligation — especially when this causes harm or problems to others

例句

Gabriel's failure to report the accident resulted in a heavy fine.

Gabriel 未通報事故，結果被處以高額罰款。

failure + to-infinitive (legal duty)

The company faced legal action over its failure to ensure worker safety at the factory.

該公司因未能確保工廠的工人安全而面臨法律訴訟。

同義詞
  • neglect

    stronger — implies carelessness or intentional disregard

  • omission

    more neutral; describes the fact of leaving something undone

反義詞

文法句型

failure + to-infinitive

someone's failure + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Commonly followed by 'to + infinitive' to specify the omitted action. This sense is typically uncountable and used in formal, legal, or regulatory contexts to describe a breach of responsibility.

常見錯誤

❌His failure of paying the fine was a mistake.
✅His failure to pay the fine was a mistake.
💡always use 'to + infinitive', never 'of + gerund'.

3. a situation in which a machine, system, or part of the body stops working correc

3.名詞B1
釋義

故障

機器或系統停止正常運作

a situation in which a machine, system, or part of the body stops working correctly or stops working altogether

例句

The plane crash was caused by an engine failure shortly after takeoff.

那場空難是由飛機起飛後不久引擎故障所造成的。

engine failure

Power failures during the storm left thousands of homes without electricity for days.

暴風雨期間的停電讓數千戶家庭好幾天沒有電力可用。

power failure

同義詞
  • breakdown

    usually refers to vehicles or machines stopping suddenly

  • malfunction

    suggests the thing works but not as intended, rather than stopping completely

  • crash

    reserved for computers and software stopping unexpectedly

反義詞

文法句型

noun + failure

failure + of + noun

用法筆記

Countable when describing a specific breakdown event (e.g. 'engine failure'); uncountable when referring to the general condition (e.g. 'kidney failure'). In medical contexts, 'heart failure' / 'kidney failure' are uncountable and describe a chronic condition.

常見錯誤

❌The computer had a fail.
✅The computer had a failure.
💡'failure' is the noun form; 'fail' is only a verb.

4. someone or something regarded as not having achieved what people expected, a lab

4.名詞A2
釋義

失敗者

被視為不成功的人或事物

someone or something regarded as not having achieved what people expected, a label that often carries a strong negative judgment

例句

At school, Mateo was labelled a failure by his teachers because of his low grades.

在學校時，Mateo 因為成績不好被老師們貼上失敗者的標籤。

After two failed businesses, Folake began to see herself as a failure despite her efforts.

在兩次創業失敗後，Folake 儘管努力過，還是開始覺得自己是個失敗者。

see oneself as a failure

同義詞
  • underachiever

    less harsh; suggests the person could have done better but did not try hard enough

  • flop

    informal; used mainly for creative works like films, plays, or products

  • disappointment

    focuses on others' feelings rather than the person's own qualities

反義詞
  • success

    a person or thing that achieves the expected result

文法句型

a + adjective + failure

regard/view + someone/something + as a failure

用法筆記

Strongly subjective and often hurtful when applied to a person — calling someone 'a failure' is a harsh judgment on their whole character, not just a specific outcome. Use with care in teaching contexts. The word can also apply to products, projects, or events.

常見錯誤

❌He is a failure person.
✅He is a failure.
💡'failure' already functions as a noun; do not add 'person' after it.

5. the closing down of a company or organization because it has run out of money or

5.名詞B2
釋義

倒閉

企業因虧損而結束營運

the closing down of a company or organization because it has run out of money or can no longer attract enough customers to stay in business

例句

The failure of several local banks caused widespread panic in the farming community.

幾家當地銀行倒閉，在農業社區中引發了廣泛的恐慌。

failure of [business entity]

Many small shops face failure when a large supermarket opens nearby.

大賣場在附近開張後，許多小店鋪面臨倒閉的命運。

face failure

同義詞
  • bankruptcy

    a specific legal status where debts cannot be paid; narrower than failure

  • collapse

    suggests a sudden and dramatic end

  • closure

    neutral; can be voluntary or forced, not necessarily due to financial trouble

反義詞
  • success

    a business that stays profitable and continues operating

文法句型

the failure of + [business entity]

face failure

用法筆記

Often interchangeable with 'bankruptcy' but broader in scope — failure can describe closure from running out of customers, losing a key contract, or poor management, not solely from being unable to pay debts. Used in business and economics contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The company went to failure.
✅The company ended in failure.' or 'The company faced failure.
💡do not use 'go to failure'; use 'end in failure' or 'face failure'.