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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'attempted but failed' with 未遂 (wèisuì)

    Actions & Events
    Result & Consequence

    Structure

    Noun + 未遂

    Explanation

    The word 未遂 (wèisuì) means 'attempted but unsuccessful' or 'failed (attempt).' It combines 未 (not yet) with 遂 (to succeed), indicating that an intended action did not reach completion. It is commonly used in legal and news contexts, such as 暗杀未遂 (attempted assassination) or 政变未遂 (attempted coup).

    Examples

    • 这是一起暗杀未遂事件。

      Zhè shì yī qǐ ànshā wèisuì shìjiàn.

      This was a failed assassination attempt.

    • 那次政变未遂后，局势更加紧张了。

      Nà cì zhèngbiàn wèisuì hòu, júshì gèngjiā jǐnzhāng le.

      After that failed coup attempt, the situation became even more tense.

    • 警方及时介入，才使这起抢劫未遂。

      jǐngfāng jíshí jièrù, cái shǐ zhè qǐ qiǎngjié wèisuì.

      The police intervened in time, preventing the robbery from succeeding.

    Expressing 'attempted but failed' with 未遂 (wèisuì) | Chinese Grammar