失利
shī lì · HSK 7
to suffer defeat
📉 失 (lose) + 利 (profit/advantage) = to lose your edge, suffer defeat
失 means to lose or miss; 利 means profit, sharpness, or advantage. Together they mean losing the advantage, i.e. suffering a defeat or setback, often in a contest or business.
利 — grain 禾 + knife 刂
Originally a pictograph showing a knife (刂) cutting grain (禾), depicting harvest. From the idea of a sharp blade reaping crops, it extended to mean 'sharp,' then 'benefit,' 'profit,' or 'advantage' — the gain that comes from a successful harvest.