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I just did the listening Mondai 2 for Lesson 33 of Minna No Nihongo 2 (the older ver.). And in question 5, it says「山田君は 今の試合で 失敗しましたが、次の試合で 頑張ります。」
I've learned that you use 「に」before 「失敗する」, and I don't know why it uses 「で」here instead.
What does「で」mean here? And how do I know when to use 「で」or「に」？
X に失敗する means "fail to X" or "fail to achieve success in X", in other words, your objective is met with failure trying to do X. Otherwise, it just means intransitive fail, or "make a failure". で is just there to indicate the circumstance.
× 試験に失敗したが、合格することができた
I failed the exam, but I was able to pass it. (contradictory)○ 試験で失敗したが、合格することができた
I made a mistake in the exam, but I was able to pass it.
山田君は今の試合で失敗しましたが、次の試合で頑張ります。
Yamada made a failure in this game, but will try his best in the next.
