The word 无赖 is formed through a conceptual blend where 无 (without) and 赖 (to rely on) combine not merely to denote a literal state of having nothing to rely on for support, but to metaphorically characterize a person who, by operating without any reliable moral or social constraints, engages in shameful and unscrupulous behavior. This transforms the idea of a lack of external dependency into an indictment of internal character, describing someone who exploits their own rootless, irresponsible position to behave in a dishonest, vexatious, or bullying manner.