懒骨头 (lǎn gǔ tou) — lazybones, lazy person (informal, often affectionate)

Definition

An affectionate or scolding nickname for a lazy person, stronger than 懒得… and more colloquial than 懒惰. Usually used as a playful insult, not a neutral description.

noun
lazyboneslazy person (informal, often affectionate)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 懒骨头，！
    Nǐ zhè ge lǎn gǔ tou, kuài qǐ lái bāng máng!
    You lazybones, get up and help!
  • 懒骨头，。
    Tā zhēn shì gè lǎn gǔ tou, zhěng tiān tǎng zài shā fā shàng bú dòng.
    He's such a lazybones, lying on the sofa all day without moving.
  • 懒骨头，。
    Bié dāng lǎn gǔ tou le, chū qù zǒu zǒu duì shēn tǐ hǎo.
    Stop being a lazybones — going out for a walk is good for your health.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

懒lǎnlazy
骨头
骨gǔbone头tóusuffix

懒 means lazy and 骨头 means bones, together picturing a lazy person.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 懶; 懒 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
賴
賴lài懶lǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 懶 pairs 忄 (heart) with 賴, which gives the sound; the simplified 懒 is a later shorthand.

Open 懒 →

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
肉肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
冎
冎guǎ骨gǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The older form 冎 drew a bone; 肉, flesh, was added to make 骨.

Open 骨 →

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 頭; 头 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu頭tóu
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 頭 shows 頁, meaning head, beside 豆 as a sound component; the simplified 头 is a later shorthand.

Open 头 →

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