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March 24, 2026
邋lā(la1)
The character 邋 (lā) primarily means 'sloppy' or 'ragged.' It is often used in the context of describing untidy appearances or behaviors, particularly in the compound word 邋遢, which emphasizes a messy or careless demeanor. This character conveys a sense of neglect in personal grooming or organization.
Strokes18Radical辶Frequency#62531DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, personal appearance and grooming are often linked to self-respect and social status. Being described as 邋遢 can carry a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of attention to one's image, which may affect social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person dressed in rags, looking disheveled and sloppy. The left side of the character 邋 resembles a person with a disheveled hairstyle, while the right side suggests the messiness of rags. Connect 'lā' with 'messy' and picture a chaotic scene to remember its meaning.
Meanings of 邋
lā(la1)
1sloppy; rags
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About 邋
邋Simplified
18Strokes
辶Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 邋
Podcast: 邋
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AI Study Notes for 邋
Quick Contrast
邋 (lā) vs 脏 (zāng) — use 邋 for a focus on untidiness or carelessness, while 脏 emphasizes dirtiness or uncleanliness.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person dressed in rags, looking disheveled and sloppy. The left side of the character 邋 resembles a person with a disheveled hairstyle, while the right side suggests the messiness of rags. Connect 'lā' with 'messy' and picture a chaotic scene to remember its meaning.
Usage Notes
邋 is often used in informal contexts to describe someone's appearance or attitude. Be careful not to use it in formal situations, as it may come off as disrespectful. Common collocations include 邋遢, which directly translates to 'sloppy' and is frequently used in everyday conversation.
HSK Study Tips
While 邋 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be useful for learners to recognize its meaning in context. Focus on the compound word 邋遢 to understand its usage better, as it combines the character's essence with a more common expression.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, personal appearance and grooming are often linked to self-respect and social status. Being described as 邋遢 can carry a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of attention to one's image, which may affect social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 邋 with similar sounding characters like 拉 (lā, to pull). For example, saying '我今天穿得很拉' (wǒ jīntiān chuān dé hěn lā) to mean 'I am dressed very sloppy' is incorrect; the correct usage would be '我今天穿得很邋.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 邋
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Grammar Patterns of 邋
邋 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
He's a bit of a problem; he's lazy, untidy and not too particular about being clean.
5
他的制服皱巴巴的，邋遢不堪，还溅上了泥点。
tā de zhì fú zhòu bā bā de， ， lā tà bù， kān ， huán jiàn shàng le。
His uniform was crumpled, untidy, splashed with mud.
Cultural Notes for 邋
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, personal appearance and grooming are often linked to self-respect and social status. Being described as 邋遢 can carry a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of attention to one's image, which may affect social interactions.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, being 'sloppy' might be seen as a casual choice or personal freedom, while in Chinese culture, it often reflects a lack of diligence or respect for oneself and others.
Word Family of 邋
Words Containing This Character3
邋遢sloppy
邋lāsloppy
邋里邋遢messy邋裡邋遢
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 邋遢 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 邋
邋遢 means 'sloppy' or 'messy,' describing a disorganized appearance.
No, it is generally used in informal contexts and may be inappropriate in formal writing.
Yes, 邋遢 is the most common compound word associated with 邋.
