惮烦 (dàn fán) is a literary and somewhat formal verb meaning 'to dread trouble' or 'to be reluctant to bother' — expressing an aversion to effort, inconvenience, or complications. The character 惮 (dàn) means 'to fear' or 'to shrink from', while 烦 (fán) means 'trouble', 'bother', or 'annoyance'; together, they convey a psychological hesitation rooted in the expectation of difficulty or fuss.

This word often appears in written Chinese or formal speech, especially when describing someone’s cautious, weary, or overly conscientious attitude toward tasks that seem burdensome — not due to laziness, but out of sensitivity to disruption or excessive demands. It carries a subtle nuance of conscientious reluctance, sometimes bordering on fastidiousness or timidity. It is rarely used in casual conversation among young speakers, who might prefer simpler alternatives like 怕麻烦 (pà máfan) or 不想费事 (bù xiǎng fèi shì).