反败为胜
fǎn bài wéi shèng
Turn defeat into victory · trad. 反敗為勝
Describes turning a losing situation into a winning one. It applies to contests, games, or any endeavor where one overcomes an initial disadvantage to achieve success. It emphasizes a dramatic turnaround.
What does 反败为胜 (fǎn bài wéi shèng) mean?
反败为胜 (fǎn bài wéi shèng) means "turn defeat into victory" in English.
Character by character
- 反 fǎn reverse
- 败 bài defeat
- 为 wéi become
- 胜 shèng victory
When to use it
A situation where a team or individual overcomes a significant disadvantage and achieves victory is perfectly described by this idiom. It is commonly used in sports, competitions, or any scenario involving a struggle against odds, and it carries a positive, encouraging connotation.
Example
下午的篮球赛，有了亮亮的上场，才反败为胜。
Xiàwǔ de lánqiúsài, yǒu le liàngliangde shàngchǎng, cái fǎn bài wéi shèng.
The afternoon basketball game turned from defeat to victory only after Liangliang came onto the court.
Pro tip: The idiom highlights a complete reversal, where the initial 败 (bài) 'defeat' is entirely transformed into 胜 (shèng) 'victory', rather than just avoiding a loss.
Related idioms
丢三落四 · Habitual forgetfulness独一无二 · Sole and unique existence丰富多彩 · Rich and varied content
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