抵赖 (dǐ lài) — to deny (guilt or responsibility); to repudiate… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally 'press against + rely on,' 抵赖 means to stubbornly deny wrongdoing or renege on a promise despite evidence — more forceful and accusatory than plain 否认, which can be a neutral factual denial.

verb

to deny (guilt or responsibility)to repudiateto renege

Examples

抵赖。
Tā shì tú dǐ lài suǒ yǒu de zhǐ kòng.
He tried to deny all the accusations.
抵赖。
Nǐ bù néng dǐ lài zì jǐ shuō guò de huà.
You cannot deny the words you said.
，抵赖。
Zhèng jù què záo, tā zài yě wú fǎ dǐ lài.
The evidence is conclusive; he can no longer deny it.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

抵 and 赖 both express refusing to acknowledge responsibility, together meaning deny.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

氐

氐dī抵

Same sound today

抵 pairs 手 (hand) with 氐, which gives its sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 賴; 赖 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

貝貝bèicowry

Sound part声符shēngfú

剌

剌là賴lài

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 賴 uses 貝 (a cowry) for profit and 剌 for the sound; the simplified 赖 is a shorthand.

Appears in

Conflict & Agreement

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