怠 dài idle
idle; negligent; to neglect
How to remember 怠: 台 platform + 心 heart = idle. On the sunny train platform, the student lies on a bench with no heart for work, happily idle all afternoon.
Component breakdown
怠 = 台 platform + 心 heart
- 台 platform
- 厶 cocoon
- 口 mouth
- 心 heart
On the sunny train platform, the student lies on a bench with no heart for work, happily idle all afternoon.
How it is used
- Slack/negligent: 怠慢 (dàimàn) to slight/neglect a guest - 怠慢了您 (dàimànle nín) sorry for the poor hospitality; 怠工 (dàigōng) a work slowdown/go-slow.
- 懈怠 (xièdài) = to slack off. Formal in tone.