Meanings of 无赖
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Podcast: 无赖
Podcast: 无赖
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AI Study Notes for 无赖
流氓 (liúmáng) — use 无赖 for someone who is more of a scoundrel or rogue, while 流氓 typically emphasizes a more aggressive or criminal behavior.
Learners often confuse 无赖 with similar terms like 恶棍 (ègùn), which means 'villain.' 无赖 is more informal and can imply a degree of charm or humor, while 恶棍 is more serious. Be mindful of context; using 无赖 in formal settings may come off as disrespectful.
As an HSK 6 word, 无赖 connects with other vocabulary related to character and morality. Focus on collocations such as 无赖的行为 (wúlài de xíngwéi - rascal behavior) and practice using it in sentences that describe people's actions or personalities.
Learners often confuse 无赖 with 赖 (lài), which means 'to depend on' or 'to rely on.' For example, saying '他是个赖' is incorrect; it should be '他是个无赖' to convey the meaning of a rascal.
Pronunciation of 无赖
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Component Characters
How to say hoodlum in Chinese
“hoodlum” in Chinese is无赖
无赖 (wúlài) refers to a person who behaves in a dishonorable or unscrupulous manner, often engaging in petty crime or deceit. It can describe someone who is a scoundrel or rogue, typically lacking moral integrity and taking advantage of others. This term is often used in informal contexts and can carry both humorous and derogatory connotations.
When to use 无赖
Learners often confuse 无赖 with similar terms like 恶棍 (ègùn), which means 'villain.' 无赖 is more informal and can imply a degree of charm or humor, while 恶棍 is more serious. Be mindful of context; using 无赖 in formal settings may come off as disrespectful.
无赖 or something close to it
流氓 (liúmáng) — use 无赖 for someone who is more of a scoundrel or rogue, while 流氓 typically emphasizes a more aggressive or criminal behavior.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 无赖 with 赖 (lài), which means 'to depend on' or 'to rely on.' For example, saying '他是个赖' is incorrect; it should be '他是个无赖' to convey the meaning of a rascal.
Write 无赖
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Practice writing 无赖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 无赖
无赖 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
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他是个流氓!____!
He's a scoundrel! A cad!
Example Sentences for 无赖 (2)
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Rebuild it: “He's a scoundrel! A cad!”
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Frequently Asked Questions about 无赖
Not necessarily; while it often carries a negative connotation, it can also be used in a light-hearted or humorous way to describe someone cheeky.
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