丧失 sàngshī to lose
to lose; to forfeit
How to remember 丧失: 丧 mourning + 失 to lose = to lose.
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How it is used
- To lose (usually something abstract and serious) - 丧失信心 (sàngshī xìnxīn) to lose confidence; 丧失能力 (sàngshī nénglì) to lose a capacity/faculty.
- Formal; collocates with intangibles like 权利 (rights), 记忆 (memory), 意识 (consciousness), not physical objects.
- Contrast 丢 (diū), the everyday 'to lose/misplace' a thing; you 丢 keys but 丧失 hope.