Comparing “sǔnshī” and “shīqù”
损失 vs 失去
Comparison section · original #36 · level order #129
How it works
Both 损失 (sǔnshī) and 失去 (shīqù) involve losing something, but they focus on different meanings.
损失 (sǔnshī) can be a verb or a noun. As a verb, it means to suffer loss. As a noun, it means loss or damage. It is often used for money, time, business, opportunity, or measurable damage.
失去 (shīqù) is a verb meaning to lose in the sense of no longer having something. It can be used for both concrete and abstract things, such as chance, trust, confidence, health, or loved ones.
So the basic difference is:
损失 (sǔnshī) = suffer loss / damage, often measurable
失去 (shīqù) = lose possession of something, often broader and more emotional
Example sentences
这场事故虽然没有造成人员伤亡，但给公司带来了不小的经济损失。
Although the accident caused no casualties, it brought considerable economic losses to the company.
如果现在放弃，前面投入的时间和精力就全都损失掉了。
If you give up now, all the time and energy invested earlier will be lost.
一个人如果总是不珍惜别人，最后很可能会失去别人的信任。
If a person never cherishes others, he will probably lose their trust in the end.
这次失败让他一度失去了继续努力的信心。
This failure once made him lose the confidence to continue working hard.
Key point
损失 (sǔnshī) often emphasizes the amount or extent of loss. 失去 (shīqù) emphasizes no longer having something.