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慵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
慵yōnglazy, indolent; easy-goingzg, 14 strokes, radical 忄
慵yōnglethargicunknown, 14 strokes, radical 忄
yōng(yong1)yong T1
  1. 1lazy, indolent; easy-going
  2. 2lethargic
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March 24, 2026

慵yōng(yong1)

The character 慵 (yōng) refers to a state of laziness or indolence, often suggesting a lack of motivation or energy. It can describe someone who is easy-going or lethargic, typically in a relaxed or unproductive manner. This term is often used to depict a casual, laid-back attitude towards tasks or responsibilities.

Strokes14Radical忄
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being '慵' can reflect the traditional appreciation for leisure and balance in life, often seen during holidays or in the concept of '慢生活' (slow living), which emphasizes taking time to relax and enjoy life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sloth lounging on a cozy couch, embodying the essence of laziness. The character 慵 can be broken down into the heart radical (忄) which conveys feelings and emotions, combined with the character 用 (yòng), meaning 'to use.' Picture the sloth feeling too lazy to use its energy, thus making 'yōng' memorable.

Meanings of 慵

yōng(yong1)
1lazy, indolent; easy-going
2lethargic
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 慵 means.

About 慵

慵Simplified
14Strokes
忄Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 慵

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Podcast: 慵

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AI Study Notes for 慵

Quick Contrast

懒 (lǎn, lazy) - use 慵 (yōng) for a more relaxed or easy-going connotation, while 懒 (lǎn) emphasizes a lack of effort or unwillingness to work.

Usage Notes

慵 is generally used in informal contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar words like 懒 (lǎn), which also means lazy but can carry a slightly more negative connotation. Pay attention to the tone; the first tone (yōng) is crucial for correct pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 慵 is not included in the HSK levels, it can be associated with HSK 3 vocabulary related to daily routines, as it conveys feelings about one's energy levels. Students should focus on recognizing its meaning in various contexts to improve their understanding of everyday Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 慵 with 懒, using them interchangeably without understanding the subtle differences. For example, saying '我觉得慵' (wǒ juédé yōng) is incorrect; instead, use '我觉得懒' (wǒ juédé lǎn) to convey a negative sentiment about laziness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 慵

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Etymology of 慵

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

heart

Semantic (meaning)忄
+
Phonetic (sound)庸
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

慵 = 忄 + 庸. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 慵

IDS Structure⿰忄庸
慵Full Character
=
忄xin1
left
庸yong1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 慵?

How to say lazy, indolent; easy-going in Chinese

“lazy, indolent; easy-going” in Chinese is慵yōng

The character 慵 (yōng) refers to a state of laziness or indolence, often suggesting a lack of motivation or energy. It can describe someone who is easy-going or lethargic, typically in a relaxed or unproductive manner. This term is often used to depict a casual, laid-back attitude towards tasks or responsibilities.

When to use 慵

慵 is generally used in informal contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar words like 懒 (lǎn), which also means lazy but can carry a slightly more negative connotation. Pay attention to the tone; the first tone (yōng) is crucial for correct pronunciation.

慵 or something close to it

懒 (lǎn, lazy) - use 慵 (yōng) for a more relaxed or easy-going connotation, while 懒 (lǎn) emphasizes a lack of effort or unwillingness to work.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 慵 with 懒, using them interchangeably without understanding the subtle differences. For example, saying '我觉得慵' (wǒ juédé yōng) is incorrect; instead, use '我觉得懒' (wǒ juédé lǎn) to convey a negative sentiment about laziness.

Write 慵

慵

Practice writing 慵 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 慵

慵 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.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

风____懒地吹过树木,像个病殃殃的孩子。

Down through the trees the wind whooshed weakly, like a sick child.

Example Sentences for 慵 (2)

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1
风慵懒地吹过树木,像个病殃殃的孩子。

fēng yōng lǎn dì chuī guò shù mù, , xiàng gè bìng yāng yāng de hái。

Down through the trees the wind whooshed weakly, like a sick child.
2
售票员慵懒地拖着脚走向下一节车厢。

shòu piào yuán yōng lǎn dì tuō zháo jiǎo zǒu xiàng xià yī jié chē xiāng。

The conductor shambled to the next carriage.

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Word Family of 慵

Words Containing This Character2
慵懒languid慵懶
慵yōnglethargic
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 慵

What does 慵懒 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 慵

You might use 慵 when describing a lazy Sunday or when talking about someone who prefers to relax rather than work.

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