laan5 lei5懶理懒理
Jyutpinglaan5 lei5
Yaleláahn léih
Definition
To ignore, pay no attention to, or not bother with.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Carries a sense of deliberate indifference or nonchalance, implying that the subject chooses to ignore something they should ideally be paying attention to. It is slightly more expressive than just saying 唔理, as it highlights a lack of effort or motivation to engage with a situation. You will often hear it used when someone is being dismissive of their responsibilities or other people's concerns.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
to be indifferent to worldly affairs
to ignore gossip
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 懶, which means lazy. While 懶理 contains the character for lazy, it functions as a compound verb meaning to ignore or neglect, not to be lazy in general.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
