adjective HSK 5
Traditional 狡詐
cunning · crafty · deceitful · sly
Meaning
狡诈 describes someone who is dishonest and uses clever tricks to deceive others for their own benefit. It carries a strongly negative connotation, suggesting both intelligence and moral corruption. This word emphasizes the combination of cleverness (狡) and fraudulent intent (诈).
Usage
狡诈 is typically used in formal or literary contexts to describe villains, untrustworthy people, or morally questionable behavior. It's stronger and more condemning than simply saying someone is 'clever' or 'smart.' Common in news, literature, and formal criticism of character.
Examples
- 01他是个狡诈的商人，经常欺骗顾客。, .He is a cunning businessman who often deceives customers.
- 02小说中的反派角色非常狡诈，设计了很多阴谋。, .The villain in the novel is very crafty and has devised many schemes.
Characters
Common collocations
- 狡诈的人a cunning/deceitful person
- 狡诈多端full of tricks, extremely crafty
- 手段狡诈methods are cunning/deceitful
Antonyms
Origin
狡 originally depicted a clever, sneaky dog (犬 radical), while 诈 combines 言 (speech) with 乍 (sudden), suggesting sudden or false speech—deceptive words.