loss
/lɒs/ (bre, ipa) · /lɔːs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlȯs/ (ame, mw)
loss — 名詞
- losssingular
- lossesplural
1. the condition of not possessing something any more that was once yours, or of no
失去；減少
不再擁有某物，或某種能力／數量的減少
the condition of not possessing something any more that was once yours, or of noticing that a physical or mental ability has grown weaker.
Christopher started looking for a new job after the loss of his previous position.
Christopher 在失去之前的工作後，開始尋找新的工作機會。
loss + of + noun phrase for losing a possession or status
Tuan noticed a gradual loss of hearing in his left ear after years of factory work.
Tuan 在工廠工作多年後，注意到左耳的聽力逐漸減退。
The company reported a significant loss of customers after it changed its pricing plan.
該公司改變定價方案後，客戶大量流失。
Quinn experienced short-term memory loss after the bicycle accident.
Quinn 在腳踏車事故後出現短期記憶喪失。
Lisa felt a deep sense of loss when her childhood home was sold to new owners.
Lisa 在童年的老家被賣給新屋主後，心中感到強烈的失落感。
- deprivation
stronger, implies something was taken away forcibly rather than merely lost
- forfeiture
legal term for losing property or rights as a penalty
- reduction
focuses on the decrease in amount rather than the emotional sense of being without
- gain
opposite of loss in quantity or value
- acquisition
opposite in the sense of obtaining something new
文法句型
loss + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' to specify what is no longer held (loss of appetite, loss of income, loss of sight). Common in medical and financial contexts with fixed expressions such as hair loss, weight loss, memory loss.
常見錯誤
2. a disadvantage or problem caused when someone leaves a place or organization, or
損失；不便
因某人離開或某物消失而造成的負面影響
a disadvantage or problem caused when someone leaves a place or organization, or when something useful or valuable is no longer available.
Vikram's move to another university was a great loss to the physics department.
Vikram 轉到另一所大學，對物理系來說是一大損失。
a + [adjective] + loss + to + [organisation]
The loss of experienced nurses made it harder for the hospital to maintain good patient care.
資深護理師的流失，使醫院更難維持良好的病人照護品質。
When the old bakery closed down, it was a real loss for the whole neighborhood.
那家老麵包店關門時，對整個社區來說是一大損失。
Élise saw the cancellation of the music programme as a loss to local children.
Élise 認為音樂課程被取消，對當地兒童是一項損失。
- disadvantage
more general; doesn't carry the emotional weight of losing something specific
- setback
implies a delay or obstacle to progress rather than a permanent absence
- detriment
more formal, suggesting harm or damage
- asset
something valuable or useful that a person or organisation has
文法句型
loss + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Commonly used after 'be a loss to/for' to express that someone or something was valuable and is now missed. Subject is often a person leaving or a resource disappearing.
常見錯誤
3. the event of someone dying, particularly somebody who was close to you or whom y
喪親；逝世
認識或親近的人去世
the event of someone dying, particularly somebody who was close to you or whom you cared about deeply.
The entire family gathered to mourn the loss of their grandmother.
全家人聚集在一起，哀悼祖母的離世。
mourn + the loss + of + person — formal expression of grief
Vinícius still struggles to cope with the sudden loss of his father two years ago.
Vinícius 至今仍難以承受兩年前父親驟逝的打擊。
Defne wrote a letter expressing her sympathy after hearing about the loss of her colleague's brother.
Defne 在聽說同事的哥哥過世後，寫了一封慰問信表達哀悼之意。
The school shared in the community's grief over the loss of a beloved teacher.
全校師生一起為失去一位受愛戴的老師而悲痛。
- bereavement
more formal; refers specifically to the state of having lost someone through death
- death
direct and factual; 'loss' is a gentler, euphemistic alternative
- passing
euphemistic and softer than 'death'; common in obituaries
文法句型
mourn + the loss + of + person
用法筆記
Often used in polite or formal expressions of sympathy (I was sorry to hear of your loss). Distinguish from sense 6 (LARGE-SCALE DEATHS), which refers to mass casualties during war or disaster rather than individual bereavement.
常見錯誤
4. the financial condition of a company or organization when its spending exceeds t
虧損
企業支出超過收入的財務狀況
the financial condition of a company or organization when its spending exceeds the money it earns over a set period of time.
The small bakery made a loss in its first year of operation.
這家小麵包店在經營的第一年就出現了虧損。
make + a + loss — standard business phrase
The airline announced a net loss of two million dollars for the last quarter.
該航空公司宣布上一季淨虧損兩百萬美元。
The cinema was forced to close after operating at a loss for several years.
這家電影院在連續幾年虧損經營後，被迫關閉。
Nia carefully calculated the potential loss before deciding whether to sell her shares.
Nia 在決定是否賣出股票前，仔細計算了可能的損失。
文法句型
make + a + loss
operate + at + a + loss
用法筆記
Commonly paired with verbs such as report, make, suffer, or incur, and with the preposition 'at' to describe continuous unprofitability (operating at a loss). A loss is the opposite of a profit.
常見錯誤
5. the result of an individual player or a group failing to beat an opponent in a s
敗北；落敗
在比賽或競賽中未能獲勝
the result of an individual player or a group failing to beat an opponent in a sport or contest.
The team's fourth loss in a row left the fans feeling disappointed.
球隊連續第四場敗北，讓球迷感到失望。
loss in a row — describing consecutive defeats
Tanvi was determined to learn from her loss and train harder for the next match.
Tanvi 決心從失敗中學習，為下一場比賽更努力訓練。
The chess champion suffered his first loss in three years during the tournament.
這位西洋棋冠軍在比賽中遭遇三年來的首次敗績。
Eitan accepted the loss gracefully and shook hands with the winner.
Eitan 有風度地接受了失利，並與獲勝者握手致意。
文法句型
suffer + a + loss + to + opponent
用法筆記
Commonly used with suffer to indicate the outcome, or with accept/admit to describe the response. A loss is typically followed by 'to' naming the winner (a loss to the defending champions).
常見錯誤
6. an occasion when many people die at once, especially soldiers in a war or civili
陣亡；傷亡
戰爭或災難中多人同時死亡
an occasion when many people die at once, especially soldiers in a war or civilians in a disaster.
The army suffered heavy losses during the battle for the coastal city.
軍隊在爭奪沿海城市的戰役中遭受了重大傷亡。
heavy losses — standard military collocation
The earthquake resulted in a terrible loss of life across the affected region.
地震在受災地區造成了慘重的生命損失。
loss of life — formal phrase for deaths in a disaster
The commander reported no losses among the peacekeeping troops stationed nearby.
指揮官報告說，駐紮在附近的維和部隊沒有人員傷亡。
Yuna read a report on civilian losses caused by the months-long conflict.
Yuna 閱讀了關於長達數月的衝突所導致的平民傷亡報告。
- casualties
includes both killed and wounded; more precise in military reporting
- fatalities
formal; refers only to deaths, not injuries
- toll
often used in 'death toll' to describe the total number of people killed in a single event
文法句型
suffer + losses
loss + of + life
用法筆記
Frequently used in military and news reporting contexts. 'Losses' in the plural refers to the number of people killed. 'Loss of life' is a more general formal expression used for any disaster, natural or human-caused. Distinguish from sense 3 (BEREAVEMENT), which refers to individual deaths with an emotional or personal dimension.