Translation guide
A dishonest or unfair action, often petty or underhanded, used to gain an advantage.
To describe a petty, underhanded action meant to deceive or gain an unfair advantage.
A common phrase meaning 'underhanded means' or 'petty trick'. It implies a lack of fairness and is often used in negative contexts.
To refer to an act of deception, often in a competitive or interpersonal context.
Means 'swindle' or 'fraud', but can be used for a cheap trick involving deception. Slightly old-fashioned.
Do not translate 'cheap trick' literally as 安いトリック (やすいトリック). It sounds unnatural and does not convey the intended meaning.
姑息 (こそく) emphasizes underhandedness and lack of fairness, while 小細工 (こざいく) focuses on the pettiness or triviality of the trick. 姑息 is more common in formal criticism.
He got the contract using a cheap trick.
Literally 'small craft', it refers to a petty trick or contrivance, often used in a disapproving way.
That kind of cheap trick won't work.
A straightforward phrase meaning 'sneaky move' or 'dirty trick'. Very common in casual speech.
That's a cheap trick.
A stronger term meaning 'cowardly trick', implying moral weakness. More formal and emphatic.
Don't use cheap tricks.
あれはただのペテンだ。
That was just a cheap trick.
Literally 'method of deception', used for describing a trick or scam. More analytical.
The con artist used a clever cheap trick.