1.
failure, lack of success, being unsuccessful
The state of not achieving the desired result or goal. A formal, somewhat literary word used to describe unsuccessful attempts, ventures, or outcomes.
実験は不成功に終わった。
The experiment ended in failure.
交渉は不成功だったが、次の機会を待つ。
The negotiations were unsuccessful, but we'll wait for the next opportunity.
何度も不成功を経験したが、あきらめずに挑戦し続けた。
He experienced failure many times, but kept trying without giving up.
A formal word formed with the prefix 不 (non-, un-) + 成功 (success). More literary and stiff than simply saying 失敗. Often appears in written reports, academic writing, and formal assessments.
The common set phrase is 不成功に終わる (to end in failure).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 不成功に終わる: to end in failure
- 不成功に終わった試み: an unsuccessful attempt
- 不成功の原因: cause of failure
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 失敗: failure — the most common, everyday word for failure; can refer to both the act of failing and the resulting state
- 不成立: failure to materialize — used when something (a deal, agreement, meeting) fails to come together
- 未成功: not yet successful — implies the possibility of future success