1
one's + failing
作名词时，failing 意为“缺点、弱点”，是可数名词，常与 one's 连用。
Her main failing is her lack of confidence.
她的主要缺点是缺乏自信。
不合格的；不达标的
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
不合格的；不达标的
below acceptable in performance; not good enough
Her main failing is her lack of confidence.
她的主要缺点是缺乏自信。
表现不合格的；不及格的
below acceptable in performance
The school was criticized for its failing math program.
这所学校因其不达标的数学课程而受到批评。
The failing company had to lay off half its workers.
那家经营不善的公司不得不裁掉一半员工。
Teachers pay extra attention to failing students.
老师们给予不及格的学生额外关注。
作名词时，failing 意为“缺点、弱点”，是可数名词，常与 one's 连用。
Her main failing is her lack of confidence.
她的主要缺点是缺乏自信。
作形容词时，failing 意为“衰退的、失败的”，用于修饰 health、business 等名词。
He kept working despite his failing health.
尽管健康状况每况愈下，他仍继续工作。
作介词时，failing 意为“如果没有”，后接名词，常放在句首表示假设。
Failing a reply, we will assume you are not coming.
如果没有答复，我们就认为你不来了。
Not this
The project ended in failing because of poor planning.
Use this
The project ended in failure because of poor planning.
这里要表示‘以失败告终’，应用名词 failure；failing 作名词时指人的缺点或弱点（如 everyone has their failings），不表示‘失败、不成功’这一结果，故改用 failure。
Not this
We should book a table. If failing that, we'll eat at home.
Use this
We should book a table. Failing that, we'll eat at home.
failing that 是固定条件短语，意思就是‘如果那不行的话’，已含条件含义；前面再加 if 语义重复、不符合惯用法，所以去掉 if。
Not this
They are trying to save their failed marriage.
Use this
They are trying to save their failing marriage.
failed marriage 指已经破裂、结束的婚姻；failing marriage 指正在走向破裂、尚未结束。动作‘努力挽救’说明婚姻还没结束，要表示‘正在走下坡路的’用形容词 failing。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
健康状况恶化
He continued to work despite his failing health.
尽管健康状况每况愈下，他仍继续工作。
视力衰退
She had to stop driving because of failing eyesight.
由于视力衰退，她不得不停止开车。
破裂的婚姻
Their failing marriage finally ended in divorce.
他们破裂的婚姻最终以离婚告终。
衰退的记忆力
His failing memory made it hard to recognize old friends.
他衰退的记忆力使他难以认出老朋友。
濒临倒闭的企业
The failing business was forced to close.
这家濒临倒闭的企业被迫关门。
不及格的分数
He received a failing grade on the exam.
他考试得了不及格的分数。
如果不那样；否则
Try to get here by 8; failing that, I'll go on alone.
尽量八点前到；否则我就一个人去了。
若不如此；否则
Please submit the form by Monday, failing which your application will be considered late.
请在周一前提交表格，否则你的申请将被视为逾期。
不做计划，就是计划着失败
I always write a weekly to-do list because failing to plan is planning to fail.
我总是写每周待办清单，因为不做计划，就是计划着失败。
如果你没有失败，你就没有在尝试。
A popular motivational saying, often quoted in schools and workplaces to encourage risk-taking.
这是一句流行的励志名言，常在学校和工作场所被引用，以鼓励人们敢于冒险。
不做计划，就是计划失败。
A well-known proverb used in business and personal planning to stress that lack of preparation leads to failure.
这是一句在商业和个人规划中常用的著名谚语，强调缺乏准备会导致失败。
发长 /eɪ/ 音 (如 rain, wait)
Use failing naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
fail(失败)+ing(正在)，正处在失败的过程中，即“失败的”。可联想“这次尝试正在fail，结果就是failing”。
语域：neutral 常见场景：新闻报道、书面写作、日常谈论健康或事业 作形容词时，failing 通常放在名词前，表示“正在失败的、衰退的”，多出现在书面语或新闻报道中，如 failing health（每况愈下的健康）。日常口语中也可见，整体属于中性，稍偏正式。
与 failing 真正押韵的词有 ailing、sailing、nailing、wailing（均读 /-eɪlɪŋ/）。注意 feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ 和 filing /ˈfaɪlɪŋ/ 拼写相似，但元音不同，并不押韵。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.