赖

賴/頼

lài

束 + 负

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

lài (verb) to depend on; to rely on

lài (verb) to renege; to default on debts

lài (verb) to blame; to put blame on

lài (adjective) bad; rascally

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 剌 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "profit". The meaning later shifted to "rely on" and "blame". Simplified form of 賴.

Semantic: 贝 Phonetic: 剌

About

Both the simplified character 赖 and its traditional form 賴 are phono-semantic compounds. The right-side component 贝 (traditional 貝) depicts a cowrie shell and signifies monetary value or wealth, while the left-side component 剌 provides the sound. In its earliest usage, 赖 denoted profit or financial gain. Later, the meaning evolved to express reliance or dependence on others for support, and also acquired a negative nuance, referring to blaming others, shirking responsibility, acting shamelessly, or reneging on promises.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

孩子依赖父母。

Háizi yīlài fùmǔ.

Children depend on their parents.

不要耍赖皮。

Bù yào shuǎ làipí.

Don't act shamelessly.

他真是个无赖。

Tā zhēnshi gè wúlài.

He is really a rascal.

你别想赖账。

Nǐ bié xiǎng lài zhàng.

Don't think about refusing to pay the debt.

好赖都得接受。

Hǎo lài dōu déi jiēshòu.

We have to accept both good and bad.

你不能诬赖别人。

Nǐ bùnéng wūlài biérén.

You can't falsely accuse others.

依赖电子产品不好。

Yīlài diànzǐ chǎnpǐn bù hǎo.

Depending on electronic products is not good.

他耍赖不承认比赛结果。

Tā shuǎlài bù chéngrèn bǐsài jiéguǒ.

He acts unreasonably and doesn't admit the competition result.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 束

赖