懒人饭

• Pinyin: lǎn rén fàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 懒人 (lazy person) + 饭 (meal / rice) -> low-effort meal.

Meaning

A quick, low-effort meal for when someone does not want to cook much.

It often refers to rice-cooker meals, simple bowls, or one-pan food. The tone is self-deprecating and practical, not a harsh insult.

Examples

1. 下班太累，做个懒人饭就好。 I'm too tired after work, so I'll just make an easy meal.
2. 这个懒人饭十分钟能搞定。 This lazy-person meal is done in ten minutes.
3. 懒人饭也要放点青菜。 Even a lazy meal should include some greens.

Usage Guide

Context: home cooking, short videos, friends

Tone: self-mocking, practical

Do Say

• 下班太累，做个懒人饭就好。
• 这个懒人饭十分钟能搞定。

Don't Say

• Do not call another person 懒人饭; it describes the meal, not the person.

Common Mistakes

• Do not call another person 懒人饭; it describes the meal, not the person.

Origin & History

Comes from recipe content promising easy meals for “lazy people.”

Cultural Context

Era: 2020s

Generation: Urban Gen Z and Millennials

Social background: City students, office workers, and lifestyle-content users

Regional notes: Common across Mainland Chinese lifestyle platforms and casual chat.