屡战屡败

屢戰屢敗

lǚzhànlǚbài

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 cóng bù fàngqì.

He loses again and again but never gives up.

Tips

history

From 《晋书·桓温传》 describing Yin Hao's failed campaigns to retake Luoyang. Zeng Guofan 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