与…无缘
to miss out on; to be denied (a title, a place, a prize)
Structure
主语 （再次／最终） 与 目标／荣誉 无缘 · （标题） 主语 无缘 目标
What it means
To miss out on, be denied: 缘 is “fate, bond”, so 与 X 无缘 is to have no bond with X. In sport and news it means failing to win a title, a place or a prize.
How it is built
Subject +（再次／最终／遗憾地）+ 与 + goal／honour + 无缘: 她受伤退赛，遗憾地与奖牌无缘 (She was injured, withdrew, and sadly went home without a medal). Headlines: 国足无缘世界杯.
When to use it
Neutral to formal; it reports an outcome. Also for being shut out of a hope: 与大学无缘, 与高薪无缘. Opposite: 与…结缘, to take something up and stay with it (八岁与足球结缘). In speech: 没进, 没拿到.
Watch out
Word order: ✗无缘与世界杯 ✓与世界杯无缘. Only for a chance missed, not something simply absent: for “has no coach” say 没有教练.
Examples
国足以0比1输给印度尼西亚，再次与世界杯无缘。
China lost 0–1 to Indonesia and once again missed out on the World Cup.
她在半决赛中受伤退赛，遗憾地与奖牌无缘。
She was injured and withdrew in the semi-final, and sadly went home without a medal.
这部电影口碑很好，却与本届电影节的大奖无缘。
The film was well reviewed, yet it was passed over for the main prizes at this year’s festival.
Learn this in Lesson 149 · HSK 7–9: 中国足球为什么难 (Why Chinese football struggles)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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