Meaning and Usage
"无赖" (wú lài) refers to a person who behaves badly, often a rogue, scoundrel, or hoodlum. It carries a negative connotation implying someone who is dishonest, unreliable, or even aggressive.
Common Contexts
This word is often used to describe people who cause trouble, evade responsibilities, or behave in a morally questionable way. It can be used in everyday speech to criticize someone's character.
Collocations and Patterns
- 无赖行为 (wú lài xíngwéi): rogue behavior, misconduct
- 无赖汉 (wú lài hàn): scoundrel, a more emphatic term for a rogue
- 赖账 (lài zhàng): to shirk debts, often paired with 无赖 to describe someone who refuses to pay what they owe
Usage Notes
"无赖" is a strong negative label and should be used carefully to avoid offending someone unnecessarily. It is more informal and colloquial, often heard in spoken language or informal writing. Avoid confusing it with "赖" alone, which can mean "to rely on" or "to blame" depending on context.