1. to not succeed in achieving a goal or passing a test
未能達成目標或通過考試
He failed his driving test three times.
他考了三次駕照都沒通過。
The plan failed because of a lack of funding.
由於資金不足，這項計畫失敗了。
Fail Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
fail
verb
快速理解
What does "Fail" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Fail"?
「fail」主要指未能達到預期目標或標準，涵蓋考試、任務、功能等多種失敗情境。
- 1
考試/測試不及格
EN: to not pass a test or exam
翻譯: 指在考試、測驗或評估中未能達到及格標準。
- 2
未能完成/達成
EN: to not succeed in achieving a goal or completing a task
翻譯: 指在嘗試完成某項任務、實現目標或履行職責時沒有成功。
- 3
停止運作/功能失效
EN: to stop working or functioning properly
翻譯: 指機器、設備、器官或系統等停止正常運作或失去功能。
- 4
不足/缺乏
EN: to be insufficient or not enough
翻譯: 指數量、品質或能力等方面不足，無法滿足需求或期望。
小提醒：注意「fail to + V」表示「未能做某事」，是常見的否定用法，例如「He failed to arrive on time.（他未能準時到達。）」，不要誤解為「失敗去做某事」。
發音（How to Pronounce "Fail" in English）
How to pronounce "Fail" in English?"Fail" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Fail" from YouTube Videos
The Biggest Mistakes First-Time Founders Make - Michael Seibel
Y Combinator
“well, this mistake isn't fatal, and, while there are many, many examples of founders who've learned to love their product or their problem at later date, one of the things that I do see is that a lot of startups that fail basically fail because they lose motivation to continue working on their their company, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that they actually didn't really like the problem they were working on in the beginning.”
(1 out of 38)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Fail"?How does "Fail" change by context?
2. to not do something that you should do or are expected to do
未能做到應該做或預期要做的事
The company failed to deliver the product on time.
這家公司未能準時交付產品。
She failed to mention the most important detail.
她沒有提到最重要的細節。
3. to stop working or functioning properly
停止正常運作或功能失常
The brakes failed and the car crashed.
煞車失靈，導致汽車撞毀。
His heart was failing, and he needed surgery.
他的心臟功能正在衰退，需要動手術。
4. to become weaker or less effective
變弱或效果變差
His eyesight is failing as he gets older.
隨著年紀增長，他的視力正在衰退。
The light failed as the battery ran out.
電池耗盡，燈光逐漸變暗。
5. to judge that someone has not passed an exam or course
評定某人未通過考試或課程
The teacher failed half the class on the final exam.
老師讓班上有一半的學生期末考不及格。
He was failed because his essay was plagiarized.
因為論文抄襲，他被評定為不及格。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Fail"?How to make natural sentences with "Fail"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| fail + to + V | 未能做到… | He failed to meet the deadline. (他未能趕上截止日期。) |
| fail + noun (exam, test, etc.) | 未通過（考試等） | She failed the driving test twice. (她兩次都沒通過駕照考試。) |
| fail + noun (person) | 辜負、讓…失望 | I feel I have failed my family. (我覺得我辜負了我的家人。) |
| fail + adverb (miserably, completely, etc.) | 徹底地失敗 | The plan failed miserably. (這個計畫徹底失敗了。) |
| fail + in + noun/V-ing | 在…方面失敗 | He failed in his attempt to start a business. (他創業的嘗試失敗了。) |
| fail + object (system, organ, etc.) | （系統、器官等）失靈、衰竭 | The brakes failed suddenly. (煞車突然失靈了。) |
| fail + to + V (in conditional sense) | 如果未能… | If you fail to pay, your service will be suspended. (如果您未能付款，您的服務將被暫停。) |
用法說明
How is "Fail" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Fail"?
fail doing vs fail to do
- fail to do 是唯一正確且常見的結構，表示「未能做到某事」或「忘記/疏忽做某事」。
- fail doing 在標準英語中幾乎不被使用，聽起來不自然，應避免。
- 動詞 fail 後面總是接不定詞 (to + 動詞原形)，用來指出未完成的動作或未達成的目標。
- 這個規則也適用於其他時態，例如 would fail to, failed to, has failed to。 EN: The company failed to meet its quarterly targets. 翻譯: 該公司未能達到其季度目標。
EN:He never fails to send a birthday card.
翻譯:他從不會忘記寄生日卡片。
總結建議
對於動詞 fail，一律使用 fail to do 的結構來表達「未能做某事」。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Fail" and similar words?How to choose "Fail" vs alternatives?
fail vs miss
「fail」強調未能達到標準或要求，通常涉及考試、任務或責任；「miss」則側重於錯過機會、目標或未能參與某件事。
fail vs flunk
「fail」是表示失敗的通用正式用語；「flunk」是口語，特指考試或課程不及格，語氣更隨意。
fail vs break down
「fail」指功能、系統或計劃未能運作或達到預期；「break down」強調機械或設備停止運轉，或溝通、關係的崩潰。
口語用法
How is "Fail" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Fail"?
引述
在口語中，常用來引述或轉述他人的失敗或未達成的狀態。 EN: He was like, "I totally failed the audition," and we all felt bad for him. 翻譯: 他就說：「我試鏡完全搞砸了。」我們都為他感到難過。
EN:So she goes, "If we fail to meet the deadline, it's not my fault."
翻譯:然後她就說：「如果我們沒趕上截止日期，那可不是我的錯。」
語氣強調
與副詞或誇張用語連用，加強失敗的程度或表達強烈情緒。 EN: I failed that test so hard, it's not even funny. 翻譯: 我那場考試考得有夠爛，一點都不好笑。
EN:You're going to fail miserably if you don't start studying now.
翻譯:如果你現在還不開始讀書，你會輸得很慘。
停頓填充
在思考或組織語句時，作為暫時的停頓或填充詞，帶有自嘲或戲謔的語氣。 EN: So I was trying to fix the sink, and... fail. Water everywhere. 翻譯: 我那時試著修理水槽，然後…失敗。水噴得到處都是。
EN:His attempt at a surprise party was, well, a bit of a fail.
翻譯:他籌劃的驚喜派對嘛，呃，有點失敗。
正式寫作注意：上述口語用法，特別是「停頓填充」中將 "fail" 作為名詞或獨立感嘆詞的用法，在學術、商業或正式書面報告中應避免使用。正式文體應使用完整的動詞結構，如 "was unsuccessful" 或 "did not succeed"。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Fail"?What fixed phrases with "Fail" should I remember?
fail to do something
fail to + VERB
未能做某事；沒有做到某事
fail miserably
fail + ADVERB
慘敗；徹底失敗
fail a test/exam
fail + NOUN (test/exam)
考試不及格
fail in one's duty
fail in + NOUN PHRASE
失職；未盡到責任
fail-safe
compound adjective
故障安全的；有自動防故障機制的
fail to appear
fail to + VERB (legal/formal)
未出庭；未到場
fail due to
fail due to + NOUN/REASON
由於...而失敗
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Fail"?Which "Fail" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×He failed the exam because he didn't study enough.
✓He failed the exam because he didn't study enough.
This sentence is grammatically correct. The common mistake is thinking it's wrong. 'Fail' can be transitive (fail + object) when referring to tests, exams, or tasks. Learners sometimes incorrectly avoid the transitive use.
×I failed to pass the exam.
✓I failed the exam.
Using 'fail to pass' is redundant. 'Fail' already implies not passing. The correct form is simply 'fail + object' (exam, test, course).
×The company failed to not meet the deadline.
✓The company failed to meet the deadline.
Using a negative word like 'not' after 'fail to' creates a double negative, which is confusing and incorrect. 'Fail to' already carries a negative meaning.
×He is failing in love with her.
✓He is falling in love with her.
Confusing 'fail' with the similar-sounding verb 'fall'. 'Fail' means to not succeed, while 'fall in love' is the correct idiom for beginning to love someone.
×If you will fail to submit the report, the boss will be angry.
✓If you fail to submit the report, the boss will be angry.
In conditional clauses (if/when/unless), we do not use the future tense ('will') after the conjunction. Use the present simple tense ('fail') instead.
×My phone was failed yesterday.
✓My phone failed yesterday.
Using the passive voice ('was failed') is incorrect here. 'Fail' is typically used in the active voice for objects like machines, systems, or body parts ceasing to work.
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Fail"?What are tense/participle forms of "Fail"?
fails(3rd_singular)failing(present_participle)failed(past)failed(past_participle)