Dictionary
English - Japanese

Fail

feɪl
Extremely common
600 - 700
600 - 700
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

失敗する (しっぱいする), ダメになる, 失敗 (しっぱい), 落第する (らくだいする), 機能しない (きのうしない)

Fail meanings in Japanese

失敗する (しっぱいする)

Example:
I failed the exam.
私は試験に失敗しました。
The project failed to meet the deadline.
そのプロジェクトは期限に間に合わなかった。
Usage: FormalContext: Used in academic or professional settings when discussing unsuccessful outcomes.
Note: This term emphasizes the act of failing in a specific task or goal.

ダメになる

Example:
My plan failed.
私の計画はダメになった。
The engine failed during the trip.
旅行中にエンジンがダメになった。
Usage: InformalContext: Commonly used in casual conversations or everyday situations.
Note: This expression conveys a sense of something not working or breaking down.

失敗 (しっぱい)

Example:
His failure was surprising.
彼の失敗は驚くべきことだった。
Failure is a part of learning.
失敗は学びの一部です。
Usage: FormalContext: Used to refer to the concept or event of failing, particularly in discussions about personal growth or education.
Note: This noun form is often used in philosophical or motivational contexts.

落第する (らくだいする)

Example:
He failed the course.
彼はそのコースに落第した。
Many students fail their first year.
多くの学生が初年度に落第する。
Usage: FormalContext: Used in educational contexts to indicate that a student did not pass a course or grade.
Note: This term specifically relates to academic failure.

機能しない (きのうしない)

Example:
The device failed to function.
その装置は機能しなかった。
The software failed after the update.
そのソフトウェアはアップデート後に機能しなくなった。
Usage: Formal/InformalContext: Used in technical or operational contexts when something does not operate as expected.
Note: This phrase can be used in both technical writing and everyday conversation.

Fail's synonyms

fall short

To not reach a particular standard or goal.
Example: She fell short of passing the exam by just a few points.
Note: This phrase emphasizes not meeting a specific target or expectation.

flunk

To fail an exam or course.
Example: He flunked the math test because he didn't study enough.
Note: This term is commonly used in educational contexts to indicate failing a specific academic assessment.

flop

To be completely unsuccessful or a failure.
Example: The new product launch was a flop, as it didn't attract many customers.
Note: This term is often used in the context of businesses, products, or events that do not succeed as expected.

fall through

To fail to materialize or be completed as planned.
Example: Their plans to travel together fell through due to unexpected circumstances.
Note: This phrase is used when something that was intended to happen does not end up happening.

Fail expressions, common phrases

Fail miserably

To fail in a very bad or complete way.
Example: He failed miserably at the attempt to fix the car engine.
Note: The addition of 'miserably' intensifies the level of failure.

Epic fail

A failure that is particularly grand or monumental.
Example: The product launch was an epic fail due to poor marketing strategies.
Note: Using 'epic' emphasizes the magnitude of the failure.

Fail to see the forest for the trees

To be so involved in the small details that the overall situation or context is missed.
Example: She was so focused on the details that she failed to see the bigger picture.
Note: This idiom highlights a failure in perspective or understanding.

Fail to live up to expectations

Not meeting or fulfilling the expectations that were set.
Example: The movie failed to live up to the high expectations set by the trailer.
Note: This phrase emphasizes the discrepancy between what was expected and what actually occurred.

Fail-safe

A measure taken to prevent complete failure or to minimize the effects of failure.
Example: The fail-safe system ensured that the data was backed up regularly.
Note: Unlike 'fail', 'fail-safe' indicates a backup plan or precaution to avoid failure.

Fail forward

To view failure as a stepping stone to success by learning from it and progressing.
Example: It’s okay to fail forward as long as you learn from your mistakes and keep moving.
Note: This phrase promotes a positive outlook on failure as a means of growth and progress.

Fail at the final hurdle

To fail at the last or most crucial stage of a process or task.
Example: He had trained hard for the race but failed at the final hurdle.
Note: This phrase highlights failing at the critical moment, often after putting in effort up to that point.

Fail everyday (slang) expressions

Bite the dust

This slang term refers to failing or being defeated.
Example: He thought he could pass the exam, but ended up biting the dust.
Note: It adds a more dramatic or emphatic tone compared to just saying 'fail.'

Fall flat

When something fails to produce the intended effect or impress others.
Example: The comedian's joke fell flat with the audience.
Note: It implies a lack of success or impact beyond just not succeeding.

Go down in flames

To fail spectacularly or disastrously.
Example: Their new product launch went down in flames due to poor marketing.
Note: It conveys a sense of crashing and burning in a dramatic way.

Tank

To fail badly or utterly underperform.
Example: The team tanked in the championship game and lost by a huge margin.
Note: It suggests a significant failure, often in a competitive context.

Crash and burn

To fail completely or suffer a catastrophic failure.
Example: Their startup crashed and burned after only a few months.
Note: It vividly describes a situation where failure is swift and total.

Fail - Examples

The project was a fail.
She failed the exam.
The company's new product launch was a complete fail.

Fail grammar

Fail - Verb (Verb) / Verb, base form (Verb, base form)
Lemma: fail
Conjugations
Noun, plural (Noun, plural): fail
Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): fail
Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): failed
Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): failing
Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): fails
Verb, base form (Verb, base form): fail
Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): fail
Syllables, Separation and Stress
fail Contains 1 syllables: fail
Phonetic transcription: ˈfāl
fail , ˈfāl (The red syllable is stressed)

Fail - Importance and usage frequency

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
fail: 600 - 700 (Extremely common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
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