shrewd
Meaning: Having or showing sharp powers of judgement; clever and practical, especially in business or worldly matters.
Shrewd implies practical intelligence and sharp business sense. It can carry a slightly ambiguous tone — admiring someone's cleverness whilst hinting they might use it to their own advantage. It is particularly common in descriptions of business people, negotiators, and political operators. It collocates with 'businessman,' 'observer,' 'move,' 'investment,' and 'judgement.'
Examples
- The shrewd businessman negotiated a deal that would prove enormously profitable within a year. 这位精明的商人谈下了一笔一年内就被证明利润丰厚的交易。El sagaz empresario negoció un acuerdo que resultaría enormemente rentable en el plazo de un año.その抜け目のないビジネスマンは、1年以内に莫大な利益をもたらすことになる取引を交渉しました。그 빈틈없는 사업가는 1년 안에 막대한 수익을 안겨줄 거래를 성사시켰습니다.
- That was a shrewd observation — few people would have noticed the discrepancy in the accounts. 那是一个敏锐的观察——很少有人会注意到账目中的那个差异。Fue una observación perspicaz: pocas personas habrían reparado en la discrepancia de las cuentas.それは鋭い観察でした——帳簿の食い違いに気づく人はほとんどいなかったでしょう。그것은 예리한 관찰이었습니다 — 장부의 불일치를 알아챌 사람은 거의 없었을 것입니다.
- She made a shrewd investment in property during the downturn, which doubled in value by the recovery. 她在经济低迷期精明地投资了房地产,在经济复苏时价值翻了一倍。Hizo una inversión astuta en el mercado inmobiliario durante la recesión, que duplicó su valor con la recuperación.彼女は景気後退期に不動産への賢明な投資を行い、景気回復時にはその価値が倍になりました。그녀는 경기 침체기에 부동산에 현명한 투자를 했고, 경기 회복기에 그 가치는 두 배가 되었습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: general, professional, media
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Middle English shrewe (wicked person, villain), related to shrew (a small, aggressive mammal). The meaning shifted from 'wicked' through 'sharp-tongued' to 'cleverly judging' by the 16th century — a remarkable reversal.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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