流失 liúshī to wash away
(of soil etc) to wash away; to be eroded; (figuratively) (of talented staff, followers of a religious faith, investment funds etc) to go elsewhere; to fail to be retained
How to remember 流失: 流 flow + 失 to lose = to wash away.
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How it is used
- Literally erosion/washing away - 水土流失 (shuǐtǔ liúshī) soil erosion.
- Widely figurative for the loss/drain of something valuable that leaves - 人才流失 (réncái liúshī) brain drain; 客户流失 (customer churn).
- The nuance is gradual, unwanted loss to elsewhere, not destruction; the resource goes away rather than being consumed.