====== làipí: 赖皮 - Sore Loser, Shameless, To Go Back On One's Word ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** laipi, lai pi, làipí, 赖皮, Chinese sore loser, shameless in Chinese, to go back on your word, welshing on a bet, Chinese deadbeat, refuse to admit defeat, act shamelessly, 耍赖 (shuǎlài), 无赖 (wúlài)
  * **Summary:** `赖皮` (làipí) is a common and versatile Chinese term describing someone who shamelessly refuses to accept a loss, honor a promise, or fulfill an obligation. It perfectly captures the essence of being a "sore loser" in a game, but extends to situations like refusing to pay a debt or going back on one's word. This behavior is often seen as childish, unreasonable, and a disregard for social rules and "face."
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>赖皮</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** làipí
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** N/A
  * **Concise Definition:** To be shamelessly unreasonable, act like a sore loser, or renege on a commitment.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine playing chess and losing, then suddenly knocking the pieces over and demanding a do-over because your opponent "breathed too loudly." That's a classic case of `赖皮`. The term describes the act of refusing to accept an unfavorable outcome by making excuses, changing the rules, or simply being stubborn. It's a blend of being a sore loser, a deadbeat, and a rule-bender, all wrapped up in a shameless, often childish, package.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **赖 (lài):** While its primary meaning can be "to rely on," in this context it takes on its negative meaning: "to deny," "to disclaim responsibility," or "to go back on."
  * **皮 (pí):** This character means "skin" or "leather."
  * The combination `赖皮` literally suggests "disclaiming one's skin." This evokes the related Chinese concept of "face" or "skin" as a metaphor for one's reputation and dignity ([[脸皮]], liǎnpí). To be `赖皮` is to act as if you have no "skin" to lose—to be "thick-skinned" or shameless in your refusal to abide by rules or agreements.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * `赖皮` is a powerful social accusation because it directly attacks a person's character and their respect for social harmony and fairness. In a culture where maintaining [[面子]] (miànzi), or social face, is crucial, to `赖皮` is to publicly demonstrate that you don't care about your own reputation or the feelings of others. It's a violation of the unspoken social contract that governs interactions, from children's games to business deals.
  * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** The English term "sore loser" is a good starting point, but it's too narrow. A sore loser is typically angry or sullen after a defeat. A person being `赖皮`, however, might not be angry at all; they might be calmly and stubbornly insisting on a re-do, making up absurd excuses, or simply refusing to acknowledge the result. It's more about manipulation and shamelessness than emotional outburst. Similarly, "welshing on a bet" or being a "deadbeat" refers to specific financial or gambling obligations. `赖皮` is a much broader behavioral pattern that can apply to almost any situation where someone refuses to accept a negative but fair outcome.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * `赖皮` is a highly common, informal term used across all age groups. Its connotation is almost always negative.
  * **In Games and Competitions:** This is the most classic usage. It's frequently used to describe children (or adults!) who can't stand losing.
    * //"You lost, stop being a sore loser!" (你输了，别赖皮！)//
  * **In Daily Obligations:** It's used for people who shirk responsibilities or go back on their word in everyday life.
    * //"He promised to help me move, but then he acted shamelessly and said he was busy." (他答应帮我搬家，结果又赖皮说自己忙。)//
  * **As a Playful Tease:** Among close friends or family, it can be used in a joking, lighthearted manner to tease someone for being stubborn or silly.
    * //A child might cling to their parent in a store, and the parent might say lovingly, "Oh, you little rascal, let's go." (你这个小赖皮鬼，我们走啦。)//
  * **In Business:** While informal, the concept is highly relevant. A business partner who constantly delays payment with flimsy excuses is engaging in `赖皮` behavior. The term itself might not be used in a formal meeting, but the accusation would be described in more formal language.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 每次下棋输了，他都**赖皮**说要悔棋。
    * Pinyin: Měi cì xià qí shūle, tā dōu **làipí** shuō yào huǐqí.
    * English: Every time he loses at chess, he acts like a sore loser and wants to take back his move.
    * Analysis: This is the classic "sore loser" context. `悔棋 (huǐqí)` means to take back a move in a board game, a textbook `赖皮` action.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 你答应过我的，现在可不能**赖皮**啊！
    * Pinyin: Nǐ dāyìngguò wǒ de, xiànzài kě bùnéng **làipí** a!
    * English: You promised me, you can't go back on your word now!
    * Analysis: This shows how `赖皮` is used for breaking a promise. The tone is insistent and slightly accusatory.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 这孩子真**赖皮**，抱着妈妈的腿不让她走。
    * Pinyin: Zhè háizi zhēn **làipí**, bàozhe māmā de tuǐ bù ràng tā zǒu.
    * English: This child is being so clingy/stubborn, hugging his mom's leg and not letting her go.
    * Analysis: Here, `赖皮` describes a child's stubborn, unreasonable behavior. The connotation is less about morality and more about being difficult in a childish way.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 他欠我一百块钱，都一年了还在**赖皮**不还。
    * Pinyin: Tā qiàn wǒ yībǎi kuài qián, dōu yī nián le hái zài **làipí** bù huán.
    * English: He owes me 100 yuan, and after a whole year, he's still shamelessly refusing to pay it back.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the "deadbeat" meaning of `赖皮`—shirking a financial responsibility.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 地上的这只猫很**赖皮**，怎么赶都赶不走。
    * Pinyin: Dìshàng de zhè zhī māo hěn **làipí**, zěnme gǎn dōu gǎn bù zǒu.
    * English: This cat on the floor is very persistent/stubborn; it won't leave no matter how you shoo it.
    * Analysis: An interesting use where `赖皮` is applied to an animal. It anthropomorphizes the cat, describing its stubborn refusal to leave as a kind of shameless persistence.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 作为一家大公司，你们不能这样**赖皮**拖欠货款。
    * Pinyin: Zuòwéi yījiā dà gōngsī, nǐmen bùnéng zhèyàng **làipí** tuōqiàn huòkuǎn.
    * English: As a large company, you can't be so shameless as to delay payment for the goods.
    * Analysis: This shows the term being used in a more serious, business-related complaint. `拖欠货款 (tuōqiàn huòkuǎn)` means to be in arrears with payment.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 别跟我**赖皮**，我们说好的，谁输了谁洗碗。
    * Pinyin: Bié gēn wǒ **làipí**, wǒmen shuō hǎo de, shéi shūle shéi xǐwǎn.
    * English: Don't try to get out of it; we agreed that whoever loses does the dishes.
    * Analysis: A very common household scenario. It's a direct command: "Don't `赖皮` with me."
  * **Example 8:**
    * 他就是一个**赖皮**鬼，你最好别借钱给他。
    * Pinyin: Tā jiùshì yīgè **làipí** guǐ, nǐ zuì hǎo bié jiè qián gěi tā.
    * English: He's just a deadbeat/scoundrel, you'd better not lend him any money.
    * Analysis: `赖皮鬼 (làipí guǐ)` is a noun form, literally a "shameless ghost/devil," used to describe a person whose character is defined by this trait.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 这个问题我们已经讨论过了，你不要再**赖皮**纠缠了。
    * Pinyin: Zhège wèntí wǒmen yǐjīng tǎolùnguòle, nǐ bùyào zài **làipí** jiūchánle.
    * English: We have already discussed this issue, don't be unreasonable and keep pestering about it.
    * Analysis: Here, `赖皮` describes the act of refusing to accept a settled conclusion and continuing to argue unreasonably. `纠缠 (jiūchán)` means to pester or entangle.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 明明是你错了，你还想**赖皮**到什么时候？
    * Pinyin: Míngmíng shì nǐ cuòle, nǐ hái xiǎng **làipí** dào shénme shíhòu?
    * English: It's obviously your fault, how long are you going to shamelessly deny it?
    * Analysis: A direct and strong accusation, demanding the other person stop denying their mistake and take responsibility.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **False Friend: "Sore Loser" is not enough.** While `赖皮` is the perfect word for a sore loser, its meaning is much broader. A sore loser is specific to competition. You wouldn't call someone who refuses to pay a debt a "sore loser," but you would absolutely call them `赖皮`. Always remember the core components: shamelessness and refusal to accept a negative reality (a loss, a debt, a mistake, a promise).
  * **`赖皮` vs. `说谎` (shuōhuǎng - to lie).** Lying is simply stating an untruth. `赖皮` is the *behavior* of shamelessly breaking rules or shirking responsibility. This behavior might *involve* lying or making excuses, but the focus is on the act of reneging itself. For example, if someone secretly steals cookies, that's just stealing. If they are caught and then insist the cookies fell into their mouth by accident, that's `赖皮`.
  * **Don't use it in formal situations.** `赖皮` is a very colloquial and accusatory word. In a formal business letter or legal dispute, you would use more precise and formal terms like [[违约]] (wéiyuē - to breach a contract) or [[抵赖]] (dǐlài - to deny a charge). Using `赖皮` in a formal setting would sound unprofessional and childish.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[耍赖]] (shuǎlài) - A verb meaning "to act shamelessly" or "to be a sore loser." It's a very close synonym and is often used interchangeably with `赖皮`.
  * [[无赖]] (wúlài) - A noun for a person who is a rascal, scoundrel, or rogue. It describes someone whose character is defined by `赖皮` behavior. It is a stronger insult.
  * [[厚脸皮]] (hòu liǎnpí) - Literally "thick face skin." An adjective describing the quality of being shameless or brazen, which is a prerequisite for being `赖皮`.
  * [[面子]] (miànzi) - The crucial cultural concept of "face," social standing, and reputation. A person who is `赖皮` shows a complete disregard for their own `面子`.
  * [[不讲理]] (bù jiǎnglǐ) - "Unreasonable" or "irrational." This often describes the logic, or lack thereof, used by someone when they are being `赖皮`.
  * [[说话不算话]] (shuōhuà bù suàn huà) - A phrase meaning "one's words don't count." It specifically describes the act of going back on a promise, which is a common form of `赖皮`.
  * [[抵赖]] (dǐlài) - A more formal verb meaning "to deny" or "to repudiate" a charge, accusation, or responsibility. It lacks the childish and colloquial connotation of `赖皮`.