I feel sorry for their defeat by the opponents. 他们被对手打败了,我感到非常难过。
We cheered for their defeat of the opponents. 我们为他们打败[战胜]对手而欢呼。
疑问:对这个defeat何时表示取胜何时表示失败不理解。
刘老师:
defeat 用作名词,既可以理解“失败”,也可以理解为“战胜”。
问题的关键是,要看后面跟的介词是by 还是of:
a defeat by sb. 被别人打败(by 表示被动关系,即“败给别人”)
a defeat of sb. 战胜了别人(of 表示动宾关系,即“胜了别人”)
又如:
a book by him 由他写的书(被动关系)
an understanding of music 理解音乐(动宾关系)