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.
彼は姑息な手段で契約を取った。
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.
A straightforward phrase meaning 'sneaky move' or 'dirty trick'. Very common in casual speech.
それ、ずるい手だね。
That's a cheap trick.
A stronger term meaning 'cowardly trick', implying moral weakness. More formal and emphatic.
卑怯な手を使うな。
Don't use cheap tricks.
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.
That kind of cheap trick won't work.
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.
その詐欺師は巧妙な騙しの手口を使った。
The con artist used a clever cheap trick.