lazy

/ˈleɪzi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈleɪzi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlā-zē/ (ame, mw)

lazy — 形容詞

  • lazypositive
  • laziercomparative
  • laziestsuperlative

1. describes someone who does not want to put effort into activities that need to b

1.形容詞B1
釋義

懶惰的；懶散

不願付出努力或工作

describes someone who does not want to put effort into activities that need to be done — for example, a student who avoids homework or a worker who does the minimum possible.

例句

Bao's teacher described him as a lazy student who never completed his assignments.

Bao 的老師說他是個懶惰的學生，因為他從來不按時完成作業。

predicative: be + lazy (describing a person)

Imani's lazy approach to the group project frustrated everyone on her team.

Imani 對小組作業那種懶散的態度，讓團隊裡的每個人都很沮喪。

attributive: lazy + noun (lazy approach)

同義詞
  • idle

    more neutral; often suggests a temporary state rather than a fixed character trait ('The machines sat idle')

  • indolent

    formal; describes someone who avoids effort because they love comfort and ease

  • shiftless

    disapproving; suggests a lack of ambition, initiative, or direction in life

反義詞
  • hardworking

    shows consistent and serious effort

  • industrious

    formal; habitually working with energy and dedication

  • diligent

    careful and persistent in carrying out tasks

文法句型

be + lazy

lazy + noun (student, worker, attitude)

too lazy to + infinitive

it is lazy of + noun + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the construction 'too lazy to + infinitive' (e.g., too lazy to clean). The impersonal pattern 'it is lazy of [someone] to…' carries mild disapproval. Distinguish from sense 2 (SLOW AND RELAXED), which describes a pace or atmosphere, not a person's character.

常見錯誤

❌I'm lazy to go out today.
✅I feel too lazy to go out today.
💡In English, 'lazy' alone cannot be followed directly by a to-infinitive; you need 'too lazy to' or 'lazy enough to'.
❌She is a lazy person' (when meaning she is relaxed, unhurried).
✅She had a lazy morning.
💡Sense 1 describes a person's character. Sense 2 only describes pace, atmosphere, or movement.

2. describes a period of time, a movement, or a pace that is unhurried and gentle,

2.形容詞B2
釋義

悠閒的；緩慢

不急不趕、輕鬆放鬆的

describes a period of time, a movement, or a pace that is unhurried and gentle, with no sense of pressure — for example, a quiet Sunday afternoon spent reading, or a river that flows slowly through a valley.

例句

We spent a lazy Sunday reading books and drinking tea in the garden.

我們在花園裡看書喝茶，度過了一個悠閒的星期天。

attributive: lazy + time noun (lazy Sunday)

The stream moved at a lazy pace through the meadow behind Evelyn's house.

溪水以緩慢的流速穿過 Evelyn 家後面的草地。

attributive: lazy + movement noun (lazy pace)

同義詞
  • leisurely

    positive; suggests a pace that feels pleasant and unhurried by choice

  • unhurried

    neutral; simply means not rushed, without the relaxation connotation

  • languid

    literary; suggests an elegant, dreamy, or gentle slowness

反義詞
  • brisk

    quick and energetic in pace or movement

  • hurried

    done too quickly, often because of limited time

文法句型

lazy + time noun (lazy Sunday, lazy afternoon)

lazy + movement noun (lazy walk, lazy pace)

feel + lazy

lazy + river / stream / breeze

用法筆記

Often used with time-related nouns (Sunday, afternoon, morning, summer) to describe unhurried, pleasant periods. Also common with nouns of movement (pace, walk, river, stream). This sense carries no disapproval — it is neutral or positive. Do not use it to describe a person's character; use sense 1 for that.

常見錯誤

❌She is a lazy person' (intending relaxed, unhurried character).
✅She had a lazy morning.
💡Sense 2 cannot describe a person's character; it only describes activities, movement, or atmosphere.

lazy — 動詞