tōulǎn: 偷懒 - To be lazy, Slack off, Loaf on the job

• Keywords: toulan, tou lan, 偷懒, how to say slack off in Chinese, Chinese for lazy, what does toulan mean, Chinese work culture, loafing, being lazy Chinese, shirking work, mōyú, 摸鱼.
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 偷懒 (tōu lǎn), a common Chinese verb for “to be lazy” or to “slack off.” This guide explores how to use toulan in daily conversation, its cultural significance in Chinese work and school life, and provides practical examples to help you understand when someone is just “loafing on the job” versus taking a well-deserved rest. Discover what toulan means, how it differs from the modern slang 摸鱼 (mōyú), and how to use it correctly in your own sentences.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tōu lǎn
• Part of Speech: Verb (Verb-Object Compound)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To shirk one's duty or be lazy when one should be working or studying.
• In a Nutshell: 偷懒 (tōu lǎn) isn't just about being lazy in general; it's about the specific act of avoiding work or responsibilities you are supposed to be doing. The word literally means “to steal laziness,” which perfectly captures the feeling of sneakily taking a break or putting in less effort when no one is watching. It almost always carries a negative or at least slightly guilty connotation.

• 偷 (tōu): To steal. This character implies an action that is hidden, illicit, or done without permission.
• 懒 (lǎn): Lazy or sluggish. The left part is the “heart” radical (忄), indicating it relates to a feeling, mood, or state of mind. The right part, 赖 (lài), provides the phonetic sound.

When combined, 偷懒 (tōu lǎn) creates the vivid image of “stealing a moment of laziness.” This is why it's not the same as simply resting; it's about taking unearned or unauthorized leisure time from a period that should be dedicated to work or duty.

In Chinese culture, diligence (勤奋 qínfèn) and the ability to endure hardship (吃苦 chīkǔ) are highly esteemed virtues. Hard work is often seen not just as a means to an end, but as a moral good in itself. In this context, 偷懒 (tōu lǎn) is viewed negatively because it goes against these core values. It implies a failure to meet one's obligations, whether to family, a company, or society. A useful comparison is with the Western concept of “slacking off.” Both terms describe avoiding work. However, the Western discourse around work-life balance and mental health has made taking small, unannounced breaks throughout the day more acceptable in some contexts. In a traditional Chinese work environment, 偷懒 (tōu lǎn) is less tolerated and often carries a stronger sense of letting the team down, as collectivism often places group goals above individual comfort. This is different from the recent phenomenon of 躺平 (tǎng píng), or “lying flat,” which is a form of social protest against the intense pressures of the “rat race.” 躺平 is a conscious, long-term rejection of societal expectations, whereas 偷懒 is a small, temporary, and often sneaky act of avoiding a specific task.

偷懒 is a very common word used across all registers of life, from the office to the home.

• At Work or School: This is the most common context. A boss might accuse an employee of 偷懒 for browsing social media, or a teacher might scold a student for not doing their homework. The tone here is almost always critical.
• In Conversation (Self-deprecation or Joking): You can use 偷懒 on yourself in a lighthearted or self-deprecating way. For example, you might say you “stole some laziness” by ordering takeout instead of cooking.
• Connotation: The connotation is overwhelmingly negative when said about someone else, but it can be neutral or playful when used self-referentially or between close friends and family. It implies a conscious choice to avoid work.

Example 1: * 老板发现我上班的时候在偷懒看手机。 * Pinyin: Lǎobǎn fāxiàn wǒ shàngbān de shíhou zài tōu lǎn kàn shǒujī. * English: My boss discovered I was slacking off and looking at my phone during work hours. * Analysis: A classic example of being caught. The use of 偷懒 here is clearly negative and accusatory. Example 2:

• 你别偷懒了，快把作业写完！
• Pinyin: Nǐ bié tōu lǎn le, kuài bǎ zuòyè xiě wán!
• English: Stop slacking off and hurry up and finish your homework!
• Analysis: This is a common command a parent might give to a child. The “别…了” (bié…le) structure strongly means “Stop doing X”.

Example 3: * 我今天太累了，想偷个懒，不做晚饭了。 * Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān tài lèi le, xiǎng tōu ge lǎn, bù zuò wǎnfàn le. * English: I'm too tired today, I want to be a bit lazy and not make dinner. * Analysis: The structure “偷个懒” (tōu ge lǎn) softens the meaning to “slack off for a bit.” It's used self-referentially and has a light, almost justifiable tone. Example 4:

• 他这个人工作很不认真，总是想办法偷懒。
• Pinyin: Tā zhè ge rén gōngzuò hěn bù rènzhēn, zǒngshì xiǎng bànfǎ tōu lǎn.
• English: He is not a serious worker; he's always trying to find ways to slack off.
• Analysis: This describes a person's general character or habit. It's a strong criticism of their work ethic.

Example 5: * 你是不是在偷懒？这个项目怎么还没进展？ * Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì zài tōu lǎn? Zhè ge xiàngmù zěnme hái méi jìnzhǎn? * English: Are you slacking off? How come there's been no progress on this project? * Analysis: A direct and confrontational question used by a superior to a subordinate. Example 6:

• 虽然教练没在看，但我们也不能偷懒。
• Pinyin: Suīrán jiàoliàn méi zài kàn, dàn wǒmen yě bù néng tōu lǎn.
• English: Even though the coach isn't watching, we still can't slack off.
• Analysis: This highlights the “sneaky” aspect of 偷懒—the temptation to do it when authority isn't present.

Example 7: * 为了身体健康，锻炼的时候千万不要偷懒。 * Pinyin: Wèile shēntǐ jiànkāng, duànliàn de shíhou qiānwàn bùyào tōu lǎn. * English: For the sake of your health, you must not slack off when you exercise. * Analysis: Shows that 偷懒 can apply to any duty or necessary task, including personal ones like fitness. Example 8:

• 偶尔偷懒一下是可以的，但不能成为习惯。
• Pinyin: Ǒu'ěr tōu lǎn yíxià shì kěyǐ de, dàn bù néng chéngwéi xíguàn.
• English: It's okay to slack off once in a while, but it can't become a habit.
• Analysis: This sentence acknowledges that small acts of laziness are sometimes acceptable, drawing a line between a one-time act and a character flaw.

Example 9: * 大家都忙得不可开交，只有他在那儿偷懒，真让人看不惯。 * Pinyin: Dàjiā dōu máng de bù kě kāi jiāo, zhǐyǒu tā zài nàr tōu lǎn, zhēn ràng rén kàn bu guàn. * English: Everyone is incredibly busy, only he is over there slacking off. It's really irritating. * Analysis: This emphasizes the social/group aspect. 偷懒 is especially frustrating to others in a team setting. “看不惯” (kàn bu guàn) means finding something unacceptable or being unable to stand the sight of it. Example 10:

• 这台机器有时候会“偷懒”，需要重启一下。
• Pinyin: Zhè tái jīqì yǒu shíhou huì “tōu lǎn”, xūyào chóngqǐ yíxià.
• English: This machine sometimes “slacks off” (i.e., doesn't work properly) and needs to be restarted.
• Analysis: An example of personification. The machine isn't literally lazy, but 偷懒 is used humorously to describe it not performing its function.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 偷懒 (tōu lǎn) with 休息 (xiūxi).

• 休息 (xiūxi) means “to rest.” It is a neutral or positive term for a scheduled or deserved break.
• 偷懒 (tōu lǎn) means “to slack off.” It implies avoiding a duty and is almost always negative.

Think of it this way:

• After working for 8 hours, you 休息 (xiūxi).
• During those 8 hours, if you secretly play games on your phone instead of working, you are 偷懒 (tōu lǎn).

Incorrect Usage:

• `我周末很累，所以在家偷懒了两天。` (Wǒ zhōumò hěn lèi, suǒyǐ zài jiā tōulǎn le liǎng tiān.)
• Why it's wrong: This sounds strange because the weekend is your personal time. You aren't shirking a duty. It implies you felt guilty for relaxing on your day off.
• Correct Usage: `我周末很累，所以在休息了两天。` (Wǒ zhōumō hěn lèi, suǒyǐ zài jiā xiūxi le liǎng tiān.) - I was tired on the weekend, so I rested at home for two days.

• 懒惰 (lǎnduò) - An adjective meaning “lazy.” This describes a person's general personality trait, whereas 偷懒 is a specific action. (e.g., “他很懒惰” - He is very lazy.)
• 摸鱼 (mōyú) - A very popular, modern slang term meaning to slack off at work, literally “to grope for fish.” It's more informal and playful than 偷懒 and is the preferred term among young people for cyberslacking.
• 休息 (xiūxi) - To rest. The neutral, “authorized” version of taking a break.
• 勤奋 (qínfèn) - Diligent, hardworking. A direct antonym describing a positive work ethic.
• 躺平 (tǎng píng) - “Lying flat.” A recent socio-cultural term describing a rejection of the high-pressure rat race. It's a mindset of doing the bare minimum to get by, rather than a sneaky act of temporary laziness.
• 怠工 (dàigōng) - To stage a slowdown; to be slack in one's work. A much more formal and serious term, often used in the context of labor relations or formal criticism.
• 好逸恶劳 (hào yì wù láo) - A chengyu (four-character idiom) meaning “to love leisure and hate work.” It's a formal way to describe a lazy character.