A ne'er-do-well is a person who never seems to do well: lazy, unreliable, or always in a bit of trouble, and not making a decent life. It comes from the phrase never do well, with never contracted to ne'er.

A ne'er-do-well is a person who never seems to do wellA ne'er-do-well是一個看起來永遠都做不好的人：lazy, unreliable, or always in a bit of trouble懶惰、不可靠、或老是有點麻煩，and not making a decent life也沒有過上像樣的生活。It comes from the phrase never do well這個字來自片語never do well，with never contracted to ne'ernever縮寫成ne'er。

You can use it as a noun (he is a ne'er-do-well) and sometimes as an adjective (a ne'er-do-well uncle).

You can use it as a noun你可以把它當名詞用（he is a ne'er-do-well像he is a ne'er-do-well），and sometimes as an adjective有時候也當形容詞用（a ne'er-do-well uncle像a ne'er-do-well uncle）。

It is a slightly old, story-like word — novels, colourful newspapers, someone talking with a raised eyebrow — not everyday office English. It is unkind, but not the fiercest insult; it often sounds more disappointed, or even a little fond, than furious.

It is a slightly old, story-like word這是一個有點老派、故事感的字——novels, colourful newspapers, someone talking with a raised eyebrow常出現在小說、辛辣的報紙、或有人挑著眉毛講話的時候——not everyday office English不是日常辦公室英文。It is unkind, but not the fiercest insult這帶點不客氣，但不是最兇的罵人字眼；it often sounds more disappointed, or even a little fond, than furious常常聽起來比較像失望、甚至帶點疼愛，而不是憤怒。

Though actually, you will also see never-do-well with never written in full; that expanded form is sometimes used in the northeastern United States.

Though actually不過其實，you will also see never-do-well with never written in full你也會看到never-do-well這種把never完整拼出來的寫法；that expanded form is sometimes used in the northeastern United States這種完整寫法有時候會在美國東北部出現。