‘虽败犹荣’ is a classical four-character idiom meaning ‘though defeated, still honorable.’ It expresses admiration for someone who loses fairly or courageously—especially in competition, effort, or moral integrity—but earns deep respect through their dignity, perseverance, or noble conduct. Literally: 虽 (although), 败 (defeated), 犹 (still), 荣 (honorable/glorious). The phrase emphasizes that honor lies not solely in winning, but in how one faces adversity.

This idiom is often used in sports commentary, academic or artistic pursuits, and moral storytelling. It carries a warm, uplifting tone—never sarcastic—and reflects core Chinese values like resilience, humility, and virtue over victory. It’s common in formal speeches, news reports about underdog achievements, and motivational contexts. Though structurally noun-like, it functions adjectivally (e.g., ‘a 虽败犹荣 performance’) or nominally (e.g., ‘this was a 虽败犹荣’).