‘惰民’ (duò mín) is a historical Chinese term literally meaning ‘idle people’ or ‘indolent commoners’. The character 惰 (duò) means ‘laziness’, ‘idleness’, or ‘lack of diligence’, while 民 (mín) means ‘people’ or ‘commoner’. Together, they refer to a socially stigmatized group in Ming and Qing dynasty China—particularly in Zhejiang province—who were legally barred from taking civil service exams, owning land, or marrying outside their class, and were often forced into low-status occupations like theatrical performance or begging. Though not an ethnic minority, they were treated as hereditary outcasts.

The term carries strong pejorative and archaic connotations. It is rarely used in modern speech except in historical discussions or literary analysis. Contemporary usage may unintentionally offend if applied to anyone today, as it evokes systemic discrimination and social exclusion. Modern Mandarin uses neutral terms like 懒人 (lǎn rén, ‘lazy person’) for informal descriptions of laziness without historical baggage.