laai6 zaai3賴債赖债

Jyutpinglaai6 zaai3

Yalelaaih jaai

Definition

To repudiate, default on, or refuse to pay a debt.

colloquialmoney

How it's used

Carries a strong sense of moral condemnation, implying the debtor is acting dishonestly or shamelessly. While it specifically refers to money, it is sometimes used metaphorically to describe someone who refuses to take responsibility for their actions or promises.

Examples

keoi5佢ze3借jyun4完cin2錢zau6就laai6賴zaai3債，zan1真hai6係hou2好mou2冇ban2品。

He borrowed money and then refused to pay it back; he has no integrity.

nei5你m4唔hou2好nam2諗zyu6住laai6賴zaai3債aa4呀，ngo5我jau5有ze3借geoi3據㗎。

Don't even think about welching on the debt, I have an IOU.

Common phrases

laai6賴zaai3債m4唔waan4還

to welch on a debt and not pay it back

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simply being unable to pay back money, which is better described as 冇錢還. 賴債 specifically implies a deliberate, often deceitful, refusal to acknowledge or settle a debt.