TSUMUGU · B1 · 字
敗
敗 ＝ 貝 ＋ 攵
ㄅㄞˋ · bài
verb — to defeat; to be defeated, to ruin
字源 FORM — what the parts do
攵義a hand with a stick, striking — the blow that ruins
A cowrie (貝) and a striking hand (攵): a blow smashing the valued thing — to wreck, to ruin, to be beaten. From ruined goods comes losing the fight, 失敗、打敗. The two pieces both carry meaning; no sound between them.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
一根棍（攵）砸下來，把貝（貝）打碎——敗了。
A stick (攵) comes down and shatters the cowrie (貝) — defeated.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)敗壞— to ruin, to wreck常用
→失敗、打敗— to fail; to defeat常用
→敗仗— a lost battle
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension