Lai (simplified Chinese: 莱; traditional Chinese: 萊; pinyin: Lái), also known as Láiyí (萊夷), was an ancient Dongyi state located in what is now eastern Shandong Province, recorded in the Book of Xia.

Tang Shanchun (唐善纯) believes lái means "mountain" in the ancient Yue language (古越语),[1] while the Yue Jue Shu (越絕書) says lai means "wilderness".

[2][3] Lai was a traditional enemy of the State of Qi to its west.

In 567 BC, Lai attacked Qi but was decisively defeated by Duke Ling of Qi, and its last ruler Furou, Duke Gong of Lai, was killed.

[4][6][7] The people (Dongyi) were moved to Laiwu, where Mencius later called them the Qídōng yěrén (齊東野人), the "savages of eastern Qi".