狡猾

• Pinyin: jiǎo huá
• Hanzi breakdown: 狡 = 犭(animal) + 交 — crafty; 猾 = 犭(animal) + 骨 — slippery, cunning

Meaning

Cunning; sly; crafty. Cleverly deceptive or tricky in a disapproving sense.

Describes someone who uses cleverness for deception or self-interest, often at others' expense. Strongly negative connotation, implying untrustworthiness. Often used for animals like foxes in fables, and for people who are manipulative.

Examples

1. 那个商人非常狡猾，签合同前一定要仔细审查。 That businessman is very cunning — make sure to carefully review the contract before signing.
2. 狐狸在寓言里总是狡猾的代表。 In fables, the fox is always the representative of cunning.
3. 他表面上很诚恳，其实内心非常狡猾。 He appears sincere on the surface, but is actually very sly inside.

Usage Guide

Context: character description, criticism, fables

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 别被他狡猾的外表骗了。(Don't be fooled by his cunning appearance.)
• 他太狡猾了，很难对付。(He's too cunning — hard to deal with.)

Don't Say

• 用'狡猾'称赞某人聪明 (Don't use 狡猾 to praise intelligence — it's negative; use 聪明 or 机智 for positive cleverness)

Origin & History

Composed of 狡 (crafty; cunning) + 猾 (slippery; cunning). Both characters share the 犭 (dog/animal) radical and together intensify the meaning of slyness.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal