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March 24, 2026
怠dài(dai4)
The character 怠 (dài) conveys the idea of being idle or lazy, often associated with negligence or carelessness in a task or responsibility. It is commonly used in contexts where someone fails to perform their duties or is not diligent, highlighting a lack of effort or attention.
Strokes9Radical心Frequency#40050DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, diligence is highly valued; thus, being labeled as 怠 can carry significant social stigma. This character often appears in discussions about work ethic and personal responsibility.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person sitting idly on a couch (怠) instead of completing their work. The left side of the character, 忄, suggests a person's heart or mind, symbolizing the lack of motivation, while the right side, 台, can remind you of a platform where someone is simply lounging.
Meanings of 怠
dài(dai4)
1idle
2lazy
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 怠 means.
About 怠
怠Simplified
9Strokes
心Radical
形容词性语素xíngróngcíadjective root (adj.root)Part of Speech
#40050Frequency Rank
Podcast: 怠
Podcast: 怠
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AI Study Notes for 怠
Quick Contrast
懈 (xiè) - use 怠 (dài) when emphasizing negligence in duties, while 懈 (xiè) focuses more on a lack of effort or relaxation.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 怠 with similar characters like 代 (dài), which means 'to replace' or 'to act on behalf of.' It's typically used in a negative context, so it's more formal in usage. Be cautious of the tone; 怠 is pronounced with the fourth tone, which can be mistakenly pronounced with a different tone.
HSK Study Tips
As this character is not included in the HSK list, learners should focus on memorizing its components and usage in context. Investigating collocations like 怠惰 (dàiduò, 'laziness') can help build vocabulary around this theme, reinforcing understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 怠 with 代 (dài) due to their similar sounds. For example, saying '我很代' instead of '我很怠' (I am very lazy) is incorrect. Remember to use 怠 when referring to laziness or negligence.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 怠
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How Well Do You Know 怠?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 怠 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
怠 = 心 + 台. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 怠
IDS Structure⿱台心
怠Full Character
=
台Tai2
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 怠?
How to say idle in Chinese
“idle” in Chinese is怠dài
The character 怠 (dài) conveys the idea of being idle or lazy, often associated with negligence or carelessness in a task or responsibility. It is commonly used in contexts where someone fails to perform their duties or is not diligent, highlighting a lack of effort or attention.
When to use 怠
Common mistakes include confusing 怠 with similar characters like 代 (dài), which means 'to replace' or 'to act on behalf of.' It's typically used in a negative context, so it's more formal in usage. Be cautious of the tone; 怠 is pronounced with the fourth tone, which can be mistakenly pronounced with a different tone.
怠 or something close to it
懈 (xiè) - use 怠 (dài) when emphasizing negligence in duties, while 懈 (xiè) focuses more on a lack of effort or relaxation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 怠 with 代 (dài) due to their similar sounds. For example, saying '我很代' instead of '我很怠' (I am very lazy) is incorrect. Remember to use 怠 when referring to laziness or negligence.
Write 怠
怠
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Practice writing 怠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 怠
怠 carries 5 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这些官员感到受了____慢，于是大声抱怨起来。
The officials felt taken for granted and grumbled loudly.
