Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To lose a battle: To be defeated in a specific military engagement or fight.
   • To be defeated: More broadly, it can describe suffering a loss in any competitive or confrontational situation, analogous to a battle.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Đội quân ấy đã thua trận và rút lui. (That army lost the battle and retreated.)
  • Dù đã cố gắng hết sức, đội bóng của chúng tôi vẫn thua trận. (Even though we tried our best, our soccer team still lost the match [was defeated].)
  • Thua trận nhưng không thua chí. (To lose a battle but not lose one's will.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used metaphorically outside of military contexts to describe a significant failure or loss in areas like business, sports, or personal struggles.
  • Công ty đó thua trận trong cuộc chiến thị phần. (That company lost the battle in the market share war.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thua cuộc (verb phrase): to lose a game, contest, or competition.

  • Anh ấy thua cuộc trong cuộc thi hùng biện. (He lost the oratory contest.)

• Chiến bại (noun): a defeat, a loss (in war or competition).

  • Chiến bại đó là một bài học đắt giá. (That defeat was a costly lesson.)

Synonyms

• Be defeated: To be overcome in a battle or contest.
• Lose: To fail to win.
• Suffer a defeat: To experience a loss.

Related Idioms

• Thua trận nhưng không thua người: To lose the battle but not lose face or dignity; to be defeated but not disgraced.
  • Họ rút lui trong trật tự, thua trận nhưng không thua người. (They retreated in order, losing the battle but not their honor.)