屡战屡败

屢戰屢敗

lǚzhàn-lǚbài

idiom

Meanings

1 to suffer defeat in every battle
2 to lose again and again

Characters

Examples

这支球队屡战屡败，士气低落。

Zhè zhī qiúduì lǚzhàn-lǚbài, shìqì dīluò.

The team has lost match after match and morale is low.

他屡战屡败，但从不放弃。

Tā lǚzhàn-lǚbài, dàn cóngbù fàngqì.

He loses again and again but never gives up.

Tips

history

From 《晋书·桓温传》 describing 殷浩's failed campaigns to retake 洛阳. 曾国藩 famously reversed the order to 屡败屡战 ('fights on despite repeated defeats') to turn a disgrace into resolve.

Stroke Order

屡 lǚ

战 zhàn

败 bài