Meaning
狡猾 describes someone who is clever in a deceptive or dishonest way, using tricks and scheming to achieve their goals. It carries a negative connotation, suggesting a person is not straightforward and cannot be fully trusted. The word often describes behavior that involves manipulation or deceit.
Usage
This is a clearly negative term used to criticize someone's character or behavior. Native speakers use it when describing people who are manipulative, tricky, or dishonest in their dealings. It's common in both spoken and written Chinese, often appearing in narratives, news reports, or when warning others about someone's untrusworthy nature.
Examples
- 01那个商人很狡猾，总是想办法占别人的便宜。, .That businessman is very cunning and always tries to take advantage of others.
- 02狐狸在童话故事里常常被描写成狡猾的动物。.Foxes are often depicted as cunning animals in fairy tales.
Characters
Common collocations
- 狡猾的狐狸cunning fox
- 狡猾的商人crafty businessman
- 非常狡猾extremely cunning
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters contain the 犭(dog) radical, historically associated with animal-like craftiness and wild behavior. The pairing of these two synonymous characters creates an emphatic compound meaning extreme cunning.