癩 (lài) - Leprosy & scabies

癩Tone 4

lài ｜ 21 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

癩 · lài

Leprosy;

scabies;

mange;

rough;

coarse;

scabby;

also used metaphorically for something inferior or shoddy.

Leprosyscabiesmange

Usage highlights

LeprosyMange dogShoddy goodsScabby headRough skinLeprosy patient

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He suffers from leprosy (癩病).
  • The dog has mange (癩皮狗).
  • This is a shoddy product (癩貨).
  • The surface is rough and uneven (癩癩疤疤).

Collocations

  • Leprosy(癩病)
  • Mange dog(癩皮狗)
  • Shoddy goods(癩貨)
  • Scabby head(癩頭)
  • Rough skin(癩皮)
  • Leprosy patient(癩病患者)

Idioms

  • A scabby head with sores all over(癩頭癩腦)
  • Like a mangy dog(如癩皮狗)
  • Scabby and mangy appearance(癩癩疤疤)
  • A leper's head(癩痢頭)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with leprosy, which carried strong social stigma in traditional Chinese society.
  • Often used in derogatory terms to describe something or someone as inferior, shabby, or undesirable.
  • The character appears in folk sayings and idioms to convey contempt or mockery.

FAQ