Meanings of 惰
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About 惰
Podcast: 惰
Podcast: 惰
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AI Study Notes for 惰
懒 (lǎn) vs 惰 (duò): use 惰 when emphasizing a habitual or chronic state of laziness, while 懒 focuses more on a temporary unwillingness to act.
Be cautious not to confuse 惰 with other similar-sounding characters. This word is generally used in a negative context, so it's more appropriate in informal settings. Common collocations include 惰性 (lazy disposition) and 惰惰 (indolent).
While 惰 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other characters expressing laziness or inactivity. Students should focus on the context in which they use it and explore synonyms like 懒 (lǎn) for a broader understanding.
Learners often confuse 惰 with 懒 (lǎn), both meaning 'lazy', but 惰 carries a stronger connotation of idleness. For example, saying '他很惰' is correct, while '他很懒' could be used but with a slightly different nuance.
Pronunciation of 惰
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Etymology of 惰
mind
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 惰
- 1The meaning half忄 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half左 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymind
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 惰? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 惰?
Decomposition of 惰
Identify the Components
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How to say lazy in Chinese
“lazy” in Chinese is惰
The character 惰 (duò) conveys the idea of laziness or idleness. It is often used in contexts where one is described as being unwilling to do work or tasks, reflecting a sense of carelessness or indolence.
When to use 惰
Be cautious not to confuse 惰 with other similar-sounding characters. This word is generally used in a negative context, so it's more appropriate in informal settings. Common collocations include 惰性 (lazy disposition) and 惰惰 (indolent).
惰 or something close to it
懒 (lǎn) vs 惰 (duò): use 惰 when emphasizing a habitual or chronic state of laziness, while 懒 focuses more on a temporary unwillingness to act.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 惰 with 懒 (lǎn), both meaning 'lazy', but 惰 carries a stronger connotation of idleness. For example, saying '他很惰' is correct, while '他很懒' could be used but with a slightly different nuance.
Write 惰
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Practice writing 惰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 惰
惰 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
这是多么懒____、冷漠、不敬业的态度！
Of all the lazy, indifferent, unbusinesslike attitudes to have!
Example Sentences for 惰 (6)
Word Family of 惰
Compound Meaning
What does 懒惰 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 惰
You can say '他总是很惰' (Tā zǒng shì hěn duò) meaning 'He is always very lazy.'
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