懒惰

• Pinyin: lǎn duò
• Hanzi breakdown: 懒 = 忄(heart) + 赖 (rely on) — lazy; 惰 = 忄(heart) + 左 + 月 — idle/inert

Meaning

Lazy; idle; slothful. Habitually avoiding work or effort.

A negative character trait describing someone who consistently avoids work or responsibility. Stronger criticism than casual 懒 — implies a problematic pattern.

Examples

1. 懒惰是成功的大敌。 Laziness is the enemy of success.
2. 他并不笨，只是太懒惰了。 He's not stupid — he's just too lazy.
3. 不要养成懒惰的习惯。 Don't develop lazy habits.

Usage Guide

Context: character assessment, education, self-improvement

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 克服懒惰需要自律。(Overcoming laziness requires self-discipline.)
• 他被批评太懒惰。(He was criticized for being too lazy.)

Don't Say

• 用懒惰形容暂时的疲惫或休息。(懒惰 implies character flaw — use 累 or 休息 for temporary tiredness)

Origin & History

Compound of 懒 (lazy) + 惰 (idle/inert). Both characters share similar meanings, reinforcing the concept.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal