WORD DETAIL
完敗
かんぱい
Examples
Included kanji
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
完敗(かんぱい)combines完, completeness, with敗, defeat. - Basic usage: It evaluates a loss in which one side was clearly outmatched and can function as a verb, as in
完敗した.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Degree of defeat
敗北names defeat itself, while完敗emphasizes how thoroughly the opponent outmatched someone.
- Contrasting a narrow loss
惜敗suits a close, disappointing loss. Being unable to keep up with the opponent's speed in the first example explains the assessment完敗.

