Slick

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common Casual
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Meaning: Smooth, clever, or sneaky. Can also be used as an adverb meaning 'kind of' or 'lowkey.'

圆滑的、精明的或狡猾的。也可用作副词,表示'有点'或'其实'。
Hábil, astuto o ladino. También se usa como adverbio con el sentido de 'un poco' o 'en el fondo'.
巧みな、抜け目のない、またはずる賢い。副詞として「ちょっと」「実は」の意味でも使う。
교묘한, 빈틈없는, 또는 약삭빠른. 부사로 '은근히', '사실은'이라는 뜻으로도 쓴다.

In AAVE, slick has multiple uses. As an adjective, it describes someone who's smooth or cleverly deceptive. As an adverb ('I slick want to go'), it means 'kind of' or 'actually.' A 'slick' move can be admirable cleverness or suspicious manipulation, depending on context.

在非裔美国人方言中,slick 有多种用法。作形容词时,它形容一个人圆滑或巧妙地骗人。作副词时('I slick want to go'),意思是'有点'或'其实'。一个'slick'的举动可以是令人佩服的聪明,也可以是可疑的手段,取决于语境。
En el AAVE, slick tiene múltiples usos. Como adjetivo, describe a alguien que es astuto o hábilmente engañoso. Como adverbio ('I slick want to go'), significa 'un poco' o 'en realidad'. Un movimiento 'slick' puede ser una astucia admirable o una manipulación sospechosa, según el contexto.
AAVEにおけるslickには複数の使い方がある。形容詞としては、巧みな人やずる賢い人を表す。副詞として(「I slick want to go」)使うと「ちょっと」「実は」という意味になる。Slickな行動は、文脈によって感心されるような賢さにも、怪しい策略にもなりうる。
AAVE에서 slick은 여러 가지로 쓰인다. 형용사로는 매끄럽거나 교묘하게 속이는 사람을 묘사한다. 부사로('I slick want to go') '은근히' 또는 '사실은'이라는 뜻이다. 'Slick'한 행동은 맥락에 따라 감탄할 만한 영리함일 수도 있고 의심스러운 꼼수일 수도 있다.

Examples

  1. That was slick how you got out of doing the dishes.
    你逃避洗碗的方式还挺高明的。
    Qué hábil has sido para escaquearte de fregar los platos.
    皿洗いをうまく逃れたの、なかなかやるね。
    설거지를 교묘하게 빠져나온 거, 꽤 잘했네.
  2. I slick want to skip class today but I know I shouldn't.
    我今天其实有点想翘课,但我知道不应该。
    En el fondo me apetece saltarme la clase hoy, pero sé que no debería.
    今日ちょっとサボりたいけど、ダメだよなぁ。
    오늘 은근히 수업 빠지고 싶긴 한데 안 되는 거 알아.
  3. He thinks he's slick, but everyone knows he's lying.
    他自以为很精明,但大家都知道他在撒谎。
    Se cree muy listo, pero todo el mundo sabe que está mintiendo.
    自分では上手くやってるつもりだけど、嘘ついてるのはみんなバレてるよ。
    자기는 들키지 않았다고 생각하는데, 거짓말하는 거 다 들통났어.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: casual conversation, texting

Tone: knowing, sly

✓ Do Say

  • That was slick.
    那招挺高明的。
    Eso ha sido muy hábil.
    それ、うまいね。(That was slick.)
    그거 꽤 교묘했네.
  • He's trying to be slick.
    他在耍小聪明。
    Se está intentando pasar de listo.
    彼、うまくごまかそうとしてる。(He's trying to be slick.)
    그가 꼼수를 부리려고 해.

✗ Don't Say

  • The adverbial use ('I slick forgot') is primarily AAVE — using it may sound unnatural if it's not your dialect
    副词用法('I slick forgot')主要出现在非裔美国人方言中——如果不是你的方言,使用起来可能会不自然
    El uso adverbial ('I slick forgot') es principalmente del AAVE: usarlo puede sonar forzado si no es tu dialecto
    副詞的な使い方(「I slick forgot」)は主にAAVEの表現——自分の方言でなければ不自然に聞こえる可能性がある
    부사적 용법('I slick forgot')은 주로 AAVE에서 쓰이므로, 본인의 사투리가 아니면 부자연스럽게 들릴 수 있다

Origin & History

Used in AAVE since at least the 1920s, with roots in describing someone as 'smooth' or 'polished.' The adverbial use ('I slick forgot') is a more recent AAVE innovation that hasn't fully crossed into mainstream speech.

Cultural Context

Era: 1920s-present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

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