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狼狽

简狼狈 · 繁狼狽

Mandarin · pinyin láng bèi

in a difficult situation
to cut a sorry figure
scoundrel! (derog.)

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Characters in this entry

狼: láng · wolf
狽: Look up this written character
狈: bèi · a legendary animal with short forelegs which rode a wolf

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

2–4 · lang2 bei4

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 11 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

long4 bui3

Cantonese word readings for 狼狽. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

adj

in an awkward or difficult position; in a tight corner
in disorder; in confusion
(literary, archaic) fatigued; exhausted; tired
(literary, archaic) untidy; slovenly; shabby
(Hokkien) down and out; poor and frustrated in life

verb

to collude; to conspire; to gang up
(Classical) to cooperate; to work in coordination
(literary, archaic) to do one's best; to try by every possible means

adv

(Classical) hurriedly; hastily; rapidly

noun

(Classical) wolf and a legendary wolf-like animal with short forelegs and long hind legs
(Classical) evil person

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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