偷懒 tōulǎn to goof off
to goof off; to be lazy
How to remember 偷懒: 偷 to steal + 懒 lazy = to goof off.
Characters
How it is used
- To slack off, dodge effort, be lazy on the job - 别偷懒 (bié tōulǎn) don't slack off; 偷懒耍滑 (loaf and cut corners).
- The 偷 (steal) captures sneaking out of work one should do. Colloquial, mildly disapproving.
- A verb-object compound, so it splits: 偷了个懒 (took a lazy shortcut once). Everyday spoken register.
Example sentences
- 所有人都喜欢偷懒。 Suǒyǒurén dōu xǐhuān tōulǎn.Everybody likes to goof off.