Lose is a verb about not having something anymore, failing to keep it, or not winning. Loose is usually an adjective meaning not tight, not firmly attached, or free to move. They are not interchangeable: lose describes an action or result, while loose describes a state or quality.

Use lose when something is missing, removed, or no longer in your possession: you lose your keys, lose money, or lose your job. It also means to not win a competition: a team can lose a game. Lose can also mean to reduce something, especially weight or time, focusing on the result rather than the process.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
lose	🔤 lose	not have something anymore or fail to keep it	🟦 不再拥有某物或未能保留它	I always lose my headphones.	🟩 我总是会丢失我的耳机。
lose	🔤 lose	not win a contest or game	🟦 在比赛或竞赛中未获胜	They might lose today.	🟩 他们今天可能会输掉比赛。
lose	🔤 lose	have less of something such as money, time, or weight	🟦 在金钱、时间或体重等方面变少	We lost a lot of time in traffic.	🟩 我们在交通堵塞中浪费了大量时间。

Use loose to describe something that is not tight or is not securely fixed in place: a loose shirt, a loose screw, or a loose connection. It can also mean free to move around, not contained, or not under control, depending on context. In everyday writing, loose describes how something fits or how firmly it is attached.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
loose	🔤 loose	not tight or not fitting closely	🟦 不紧或不贴合	These pants are loose.	🟩 这条裤子很松。
loose	🔤 loose	not firmly attached or fastened	🟦 没有牢固地固定	The handle is loose.	🟩 把手松动。
loose	🔤 loose	free to move and not contained	🟦 可自由移动而不被限制	There is a loose dog in the yard.	🟩 院子里有一只松散的狗。

Lose is a verb, so it often follows a subject and changes form for tense: lose, loses, lost, losing. Loose is usually an adjective and comes before a noun or after a linking verb like be: a loose bolt, the bolt is loose. Keeping the grammar role in mind prevents most mix-ups.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use lose as a verb for actions and outcomes	🧩 将 lose 用作描述动作和结果的动词	I do not want to lose my place.	🟩 我不想丢失我的位置。
Use loose as an adjective for condition or fit	🧩 将 loose 作为描述状态或合适度的形容词	My shoelaces are loose.	🟩 我的鞋带是松的。
After be, seem, feel, stay, loose describes the subject	🧩 在 be、seem、feel、stay 之后，loose 用来描述主语	The lid feels loose.	🟩 盖子感觉松散。

The words look similar but sound different. Lose has a voiced z sound at the end, and loose has an unvoiced s sound plus a longer s sound feeling. Listening for the final sound helps you choose the correct spelling when writing.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Description	🇨🇳 中文 描述	Notation	🇨🇳 中文 注记	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Final sound	🗣️ 结尾音	Lose ends with voiced z	🟦 Lose 以有声 z 结尾	/luːz/	🔤 /luːz/	You might lose your chance.	🟩 你可能会失去机会。
Final sound	🗣️ 结尾音	Loose ends with unvoiced s	🟦 Loose 以无声的 s 结尾	/luːs/	🔤 /luːs/	The knot is loose.	🟩 这个结是松的。
Voice test	🗣️ 发声测试	Put a hand on your throat: voiced sounds vibrate	🟦 放一只手在喉咙上：有声的音会振动	z vibrates, s does not	🔤 z vibrates, s does not	lose has z, loose has s	🟩 lose 以 z 结尾，loose 以 s 结尾

Certain nouns frequently pair with lose, and others commonly pair with loose. Learning these natural combinations makes your writing sound fluent and reduces spelling errors. When you see these nouns, you can often predict the correct word automatically.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
lose weight	🔤 lose weight	become lighter or reduce body weight	🟦 变轻或减少体重	She wants to lose weight safely.	🟩 她想安全地减轻体重。
lose time	🔤 lose time	waste or have less time available	🟦 浪费时间或可用时间变少	We lost time because of delays.	🟩 由于延误，我们浪费了时间。
lose control	🔤 lose control	stop controlling a situation or yourself	🟦 停止控制一个局势或自己	He lost control of the car.	🟩 他失去对车的控制。
loose change	🔤 loose change	coins not kept together or not in a wallet section	🟦 硬币没有放在一起或不在钱包的某个区域	I have some loose change.	🟩 我有一些零钱。
loose clothing	🔤 loose clothing	clothing that does not fit tightly	🟦 不紧贴身的衣物	Wear loose clothing in hot weather.	🟩 在炎热的天气穿宽松的衣服。
loose connection	🔤 loose connection	connection that is not secure and may fail	🟦 连接不牢固，可能会失败	The screen flickers because of a loose connection.	🟩 因为连接松动，屏幕会闪烁。

Loose can also be a verb meaning to release, to set free, or to let something go, but this use is formal or literary. In modern everyday English, people usually choose release, let go, or set free instead. If you see loose used as a verb, it will take objects and tense forms like loosed.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Loose can mean release or set free in formal style	🧩 Loose 在正式风格中可表示释放或放走	They loosed the dogs at dawn.	🟩 他们在黎明时放出了狗。
In everyday English, prefer release or let go for clarity	🧩 在日常英语中，为了清晰起见，请偏好使用 release 或 let go	Please release the cable.	🟩 请释放这条电缆。

Use a simple decision: if you mean not win or not keep, choose lose. If you mean not tight or free to move, choose loose. This quick test works for most writing situations, including emails and school assignments.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
If you can replace it with misplace or fail to win, use lose	🧩 如果你可以用 misplace 或 fail to win 来替换，请使用 lose	Do not lose your ticket.	🟩 不要丢失你的票。
If you can replace it with not tight, use loose	🧩 如果可以用 not tight 来替换，请使用 loose	The cap is loose.	🟩 盖子是松的。
If you can replace it with release, loose may be possible but is formal	🧩 如果可以用 release 来替换，loose 可能适用但更正式	The guard loosed the prisoners.	🟩 警卫释放了囚犯。

A helpful spelling cue is that lose has one o and the sound ends like z, while loose has two o letters and feels longer and more open. Another cue is that loose relates to loosen, which also has two o letters. These cues are not rules, but they can speed up correct spelling choices.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Loose connects to loosen and keeps two o letters	🧩 Loose 与 loosen 有联系，且保留两个 o 字母	Tighten the loose bolt to loosen it later.	🟩 先把松动的螺栓拧紧，然后再松开它。
Lose is shorter with one o and ends with z sound	🧩 Lose 只有一个 o，且以 z 音结尾	I do not want to lose this.	🟩 我不想丢失这个。