赖 (lài) · to depend on; to rely on

Meanings

1 to depend on; to rely on
2 to renege; to deny; to go back on one's word
3 to blame; to put the blame on

Characters

赖

lài

to depend on; to blame; to deny

Examples

HSK 2

这件事别赖我。

Zhè jiàn shì bié lài wǒ.

Don't blame me for this.

HSK 6

你不能赖账。

Nǐ bùnéng làizhàng.

You can't renege on a debt.

HSK 6

小孩赖在地上不肯走。

Xiǎohái lài zài dìshàng bùkěn zǒu.

The child clung to the ground and refused to move.

Tips

usage

赖 has multiple meanings depending on context: 赖账 (renege on a debt), 赖皮 (act shamelessly), 依赖 (depend on). The negative connotation (reneging/blaming) is more common in everyday speech.

memory

贝 (shell/money) radical - someone who won't pay up, who reneges on money matters.

Components

radical

贝 bèi

cowrie shell; money

Right shell radical - anchors 赖 originally in the meaning to gain or profit, since shells were currency. From gain came depending on someone for money, then clinging on and refusing to pay up - the modern senses of relying on, blaming, and reneging. Same shell family: 财 (wealth), 账 (account), 赔 (compensate), 贵 (expensive).

phonetic

剌 là

cut; thorn (here phonetic)

Left 剌 supplies the sound exactly (là → lài, just a tone shift). Composed of 束 (bundle) plus 刂 (knife), it is itself a recognized character meaning to slice or to thorn. Kept as one unit per the three-as-two rule, not split into 束+刂. Same phonetic family: 癞 (mange), 籁 (bamboo flute), 懒 (lazy).