赖

• Pinyin: lài
• Hanzi breakdown: 赖 = 束 (bundle) + 贝 (money/shell) — clinging to resources, refusing to let go

Meaning

To rely on; to deny wrongdoing; to refuse to leave; to be a deadbeat; shameless.

Has several related but distinct meanings: depending on someone, shirking responsibility, refusing to leave a place, or acting shamelessly. Often describes behavior of avoiding obligation or blame. Common in expressions about people who won't pay debts or admit mistakes.

Examples

1. 他欠了钱就想赖账，这种人真的很没信用。 He owes money and tries to weasel out of paying — this kind of person really has no credit.
2. 小孩子赖在游乐场不肯走，家长怎么劝都没用。 The child refused to leave the playground, and no amount of coaxing from the parents worked.
3. 这件事明明是他的错，他还想赖到别人头上。 This is clearly his fault, yet he still wants to pin it on someone else.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, disputes, criticism

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 他想赖账，门儿都没有。(He wants to welch on the debt — no way.)
• 别赖在床上了，该起来了。(Stop lingering in bed, time to get up.)

Don't Say

• 我赖你帮忙。(For 'relying on help,' use 依赖 or 靠 — 赖 alone sounds negative)

Origin & History

Combines 束 (bundle/restrain) with 贝 (shell/money), originally related to depending on or clinging to resources. Extended to mean refusing to acknowledge debts or responsibilities.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal