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| 偷懒 [2025/08/13 02:28] – created xiaoer | 偷懒 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== tōulǎn: 偷懒 - To be lazy, Slack off, Loaf on the job ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** toulan, tou lan, 偷懒, how to say slack off in Chinese, Chinese for lazy, what does toulan mean, Chinese work culture, loafing, being lazy Chinese, shirking work, mōyú, 摸鱼. | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the meaning of **偷懒 (tōu lǎn)**, a common Chinese verb for "to be lazy" or to "slack off." This guide explores how to use **toulan** in daily conversation, its cultural significance in Chinese work and school life, and provides practical examples to help you understand when someone is just "loafing on the job" versus taking a well-deserved rest. Discover what **toulan** means, how it differs from the modern slang [[摸鱼]] (mōyú), and how to use it correctly in your own sentences. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** tōu lǎn | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Verb (Verb-Object Compound) | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To shirk one's duty or be lazy when one should be working or studying. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **偷懒 (tōu lǎn)** isn't just about being lazy in general; it's about the specific act of avoiding work or responsibilities you are supposed to be doing. The word literally means "to steal laziness," which perfectly captures the feeling of sneakily taking a break or putting in less effort when no one is watching. It almost always carries a negative or at least slightly guilty connotation. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **偷 (tōu):** To steal. This character implies an action that is hidden, illicit, or done without permission. | |
| * **懒 (lǎn):** Lazy or sluggish. The left part is the "heart" radical (忄), indicating it relates to a feeling, mood, or state of mind. The right part, 赖 (lài), provides the phonetic sound. | |
| When combined, **偷懒 (tōu lǎn)** creates the vivid image of "stealing a moment of laziness." This is why it's not the same as simply resting; it's about taking unearned or unauthorized leisure time from a period that should be dedicated to work or duty. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, diligence (勤奋 qínfèn) and the ability to endure hardship (吃苦 chīkǔ) are highly esteemed virtues. Hard work is often seen not just as a means to an end, but as a moral good in itself. In this context, **偷懒 (tōu lǎn)** is viewed negatively because it goes against these core values. It implies a failure to meet one's obligations, whether to family, a company, or society. | |
| A useful comparison is with the Western concept of "slacking off." Both terms describe avoiding work. However, the Western discourse around work-life balance and mental health has made taking small, unannounced breaks throughout the day more acceptable in some contexts. In a traditional Chinese work environment, **偷懒 (tōu lǎn)** is less tolerated and often carries a stronger sense of letting the team down, as collectivism often places group goals above individual comfort. | |
| This is different from the recent phenomenon of [[躺平]] (tǎng píng), or "lying flat," which is a form of social protest against the intense pressures of the "rat race." **躺平** is a conscious, long-term rejection of societal expectations, whereas **偷懒** is a small, temporary, and often sneaky act of avoiding a specific task. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **偷懒** is a very common word used across all registers of life, from the office to the home. | |
| * **At Work or School:** This is the most common context. A boss might accuse an employee of **偷懒** for browsing social media, or a teacher might scold a student for not doing their homework. The tone here is almost always critical. | |
| * **In Conversation (Self-deprecation or Joking):** You can use **偷懒** on yourself in a lighthearted or self-deprecating way. For example, you might say you "stole some laziness" by ordering takeout instead of cooking. | |
| * **Connotation:** The connotation is overwhelmingly negative when said about someone else, but it can be neutral or playful when used self-referentially or between close friends and family. It implies a conscious choice to avoid work. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| // **Example 1:** | |
| * 老板发现我上班的时候在**偷懒**看手机。 | |
| * Pinyin: Lǎobǎn fāxiàn wǒ shàngbān de shíhou zài **tōu lǎn** kàn shǒujī. | |
| * English: My boss discovered I was slacking off and looking at my phone during work hours. | |
| * Analysis: A classic example of being caught. The use of **偷懒** here is clearly negative and accusatory. | |
| // **Example 2:** | |
| * 你别**偷懒**了，快把作业写完！ | |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ bié **tōu lǎn** le, kuài bǎ zuòyè xiě wán! | |
| * English: Stop slacking off and hurry up and finish your homework! | |
| * Analysis: This is a common command a parent might give to a child. The "别...了" (bié...le) structure strongly means "Stop doing X". | |
| // **Example 3:** | |
| * 我今天太累了，想**偷个懒**，不做晚饭了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān tài lèi le, xiǎng **tōu ge lǎn**, bù zuò wǎnfàn le. | |
| * English: I'm too tired today, I want to be a bit lazy and not make dinner. | |
| * Analysis: The structure "偷个懒" (tōu ge lǎn) softens the meaning to "slack off for a bit." It's used self-referentially and has a light, almost justifiable tone. | |
| // **Example 4:** | |
| * 他这个人工作很不认真，总是想办法**偷懒**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā zhè ge rén gōngzuò hěn bù rènzhēn, zǒngshì xiǎng bànfǎ **tōu lǎn**. | |
| * English: He is not a serious worker; he's always trying to find ways to slack off. | |
| * Analysis: This describes a person's general character or habit. It's a strong criticism of their work ethic. | |
| // **Example 5:** | |
| * 你是不是在**偷懒**？这个项目怎么还没进展？ | |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì zài **tōu lǎn**? Zhè ge xiàngmù zěnme hái méi jìnzhǎn? | |
| * English: Are you slacking off? How come there's been no progress on this project? | |
| * Analysis: A direct and confrontational question used by a superior to a subordinate. | |
| // **Example 6:** | |
| * 虽然教练没在看，但我们也不能**偷懒**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Suīrán jiàoliàn méi zài kàn, dàn wǒmen yě bù néng **tōu lǎn**. | |
| * English: Even though the coach isn't watching, we still can't slack off. | |
| * Analysis: This highlights the "sneaky" aspect of **偷懒**—the temptation to do it when authority isn't present. | |
| // **Example 7:** | |
| * 为了身体健康，锻炼的时候千万不要**偷懒**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wèile shēntǐ jiànkāng, duànliàn de shíhou qiānwàn bùyào **tōu lǎn**. | |
| * English: For the sake of your health, you must not slack off when you exercise. | |
| * Analysis: Shows that **偷懒** can apply to any duty or necessary task, including personal ones like fitness. | |
| // **Example 8:** | |
| * 偶尔**偷懒**一下是可以的，但不能成为习惯。 | |
| * Pinyin: Ǒu'ěr **tōu lǎn** yíxià shì kěyǐ de, dàn bù néng chéngwéi xíguàn. | |
| * English: It's okay to slack off once in a while, but it can't become a habit. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence acknowledges that small acts of laziness are sometimes acceptable, drawing a line between a one-time act and a character flaw. | |
| // **Example 9:** | |
| * 大家都忙得不可开交，只有他在那儿**偷懒**，真让人看不惯。 | |
| * Pinyin: Dàjiā dōu máng de bù kě kāi jiāo, zhǐyǒu tā zài nàr **tōu lǎn**, zhēn ràng rén kàn bu guàn. | |
| * English: Everyone is incredibly busy, only he is over there slacking off. It's really irritating. | |
| * Analysis: This emphasizes the social/group aspect. **偷懒** is especially frustrating to others in a team setting. "看不惯" (kàn bu guàn) means finding something unacceptable or being unable to stand the sight of it. | |
| // **Example 10:** | |
| * 这台机器有时候会“**偷懒**”，需要重启一下。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè tái jīqì yǒu shíhou huì “**tōu lǎn**”, xūyào chóngqǐ yíxià. | |
| * English: This machine sometimes "slacks off" (i.e., doesn't work properly) and needs to be restarted. | |
| * Analysis: An example of personification. The machine isn't literally lazy, but **偷懒** is used humorously to describe it not performing its function. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| The most common mistake for learners is confusing **偷懒 (tōu lǎn)** with **休息 (xiūxi)**. | |
| * **休息 (xiūxi)** means "to rest." It is a neutral or positive term for a scheduled or deserved break. | |
| * **偷懒 (tōu lǎn)** means "to slack off." It implies avoiding a duty and is almost always negative. | |
| Think of it this way: | |
| * After working for 8 hours, you **休息 (xiūxi)**. | |
| * During those 8 hours, if you secretly play games on your phone instead of working, you are **偷懒 (tōu lǎn)**. | |
| **Incorrect Usage:** | |
| * `我周末很累，所以在家偷懒了两天。` (Wǒ zhōumò hěn lèi, suǒyǐ zài jiā tōulǎn le liǎng tiān.) | |
| * **Why it's wrong:** This sounds strange because the weekend is your personal time. You aren't shirking a duty. It implies you felt guilty for relaxing on your day off. | |
| * **Correct Usage:** `我周末很累，所以在休息了两天。` (Wǒ zhōumō hěn lèi, suǒyǐ zài jiā xiūxi le liǎng tiān.) - I was tired on the weekend, so I rested at home for two days. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[懒惰]] (lǎnduò) - An adjective meaning "lazy." This describes a person's general personality trait, whereas **偷懒** is a specific action. (e.g., "他很懒惰" - He is very lazy.) | |
| * [[摸鱼]] (mōyú) - A very popular, modern slang term meaning to slack off at work, literally "to grope for fish." It's more informal and playful than **偷懒** and is the preferred term among young people for cyberslacking. | |
| * [[休息]] (xiūxi) - To rest. The neutral, "authorized" version of taking a break. | |
| * [[勤奋]] (qínfèn) - Diligent, hardworking. A direct antonym describing a positive work ethic. | |
| * [[躺平]] (tǎng píng) - "Lying flat." A recent socio-cultural term describing a rejection of the high-pressure rat race. It's a mindset of doing the bare minimum to get by, rather than a sneaky act of temporary laziness. | |
| * [[怠工]] (dàigōng) - To stage a slowdown; to be slack in one's work. A much more formal and serious term, often used in the context of labor relations or formal criticism. | |
| * [[好逸恶劳]] (hào yì wù láo) - A chengyu (four-character idiom) meaning "to love leisure and hate work." It's a formal way to describe a lazy character. | |