While “laid-back” is a decent translation, it can sometimes imply passivity or even laziness in English. 随和, however, has a more active and positive social connotation. It's less about being disengaged and more about being actively cooperative and considerate to ensure social harmony.
This is the most common pitfall for learners. Though they share the character 随, their meanings are very different.
随和 (suíhé) is an adjective for a person's character: easygoing, amiable. (Compliment)
随便 (suíbiàn) means “casual,” “random,” “as one pleases,” and can describe actions or attitudes. It often carries a negative connotation of being careless, sloppy, or lacking in standards.
Correct Usage: 他是一个很随和的人。(Tā shì yī ge hěn suíhé de rén.) - He is a very easygoing person.
Incorrect Usage: `他是一个很随便的人。` (Tā shì yī ge hěn suíbiàn de rén.) - This is a strong criticism. It can mean “He is a very careless person,” or in some contexts, even “He is promiscuous.”
Correct Usage: 这件事你不能太随便了。(Zhè jiàn shì nǐ bùnéng tài suíbiàn le.) - You can't be too careless about this matter.
Incorrect Usage: `这件事你不能太随和了。` (This sentence is grammatically awkward and makes no sense, as 随和 describes a person's nature, not how one handles a task).