拖累

• Pinyin: tuō lěi
• Hanzi breakdown: 拖 = 扌 (hand) + 它 (it, phonetic); 累 = 田 (field) + 糸 (silk thread) — piled-up thread

Meaning

To drag down; to be a burden on; to hold back. Causing others to suffer or be burdened because of one's own problems or dependency.

Has a strong emotional weight — the person being dragged down often feels resentment or helplessness. Frequently used in family contexts (a sick family member dragging down finances) or professional ones (a weak team member holding back the group). The one doing the dragging-down often feels guilt; the one dragged down often feels frustration.

Examples

1. 他一直担心自己的病情会拖累整个家庭。 He has always worried that his illness would drag down the entire family.
2. 因为几个不努力的成员，整个团队的进度被严重拖累。 Because of a few unmotivated members, the whole team's progress was seriously held back.
3. 她不想因为照顾父母而拖累自己的职业发展。 She didn't want caring for her parents to hold back her career development.

Usage Guide

Context: family, professional, personal

Tone: emotional

Do Say

• 我不想拖累你，你先走吧。(I don't want to hold you back — you go ahead.)
• 他的负面情绪严重拖累了整个团队的士气。(His negative attitude dragged the morale of the entire team down badly.)

Don't Say

• 把正常的互相依赖称为'拖累' (拖累 implies excessive and unwelcome burden; normal mutual support in a team is not 拖累)

Origin & History

Compound of 拖 (drag, pull behind) + 累 (burden, tire). Together convey the image of dragging a heavy burden along, slowing others down.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal