损失 (sǔn shī) is a noun meaning 'loss' or 'damage', often referring to something valuable that has been reduced, destroyed, or taken away—such as money, time, health, or life. The first character 损 means 'to harm' or 'to impair', while the second character 失 means 'to lose' or 'to miss'. Together, they emphasize an irreversible or detrimental reduction in quantity, quality, or function.

This word is commonly used in formal and semi-formal contexts—especially in news reports, business discussions, medical summaries, and accident descriptions. It carries a neutral-to-negative connotation and usually implies measurable or serious consequences. While it can refer to abstract losses (e.g., loss of confidence), it most frequently appears with quantifiers like 重大 (major), 巨大 (huge), or 轻微 (minor) to specify severity. It does not describe temporary or trivial setbacks—those are better expressed with words like 失败 (failure) or 挫折 (setback).