Translation guide
Describes someone who is cunning, sly, or skilled at deception. Japanese has several words for this, ranging from neutral cleverness to negative trickery. The most common and useful word is ずるい人, but more colorful terms exist.
To describe someone who uses cleverness to get what they want, often in a dishonest or selfish way.
The most common and versatile way to say 'crafty person'. ずるい means 'sly' or 'unfair', and 人 means 'person'. It can be used for both mild and serious craftiness.
彼はずるい人だ。
He is a crafty person.
ずるい人は信用できない。
You can't trust a crafty person.
Literally 'tactician' or 'schemer'. Implies someone who devises clever plans, often with a negative connotation of manipulation. More formal/literary than ずるい人.
彼は政界の策士だ。
He is a crafty operator in the political world.
狡猾 means 'cunning' or 'crafty' in a strongly negative, scheming way. Often used in formal or written contexts. Sounds more serious than ずるい.
彼は狡猾な人で、誰も信用していない。
He is a crafty person whom no one trusts.
To describe someone who is clever at finding solutions or getting things done, without necessarily being dishonest.
Means a 'go-getter' or 'shrewd operator'. Implies someone who is capable, resourceful, and sometimes crafty in business or practical matters. Can be positive or neutral.
彼女はなかなかのやり手だ。
She is quite a crafty person (in a capable sense).
Literally 'wise person' or 'resourceful person'. Emphasizes intelligence and cleverness rather than dishonesty. Can be used for someone who is crafty in a good way.
Means a 'sly dog' or 'crafty fellow'. It has a nuance of someone who is not to be underestimated, often with a hint of admiration for their cleverness. Can be used playfully.
To emphasize dishonesty, trickery, or malicious intent.
Means 'con artist' or 'swindler'. Specifically refers to someone who deceives others for financial gain. Strongly negative.
彼は詐欺師だ。
He is a crafty con artist.
Similar to 詐欺師, but often implies a smooth-talking trickster. Slightly dated or colloquial.
Means 'schemer' or 'plotter'. Used for someone who devises elaborate, often malicious plans. Formal and literary.
ずるい人 is the everyday word for a crafty or sly person. It can be used for children cheating at games or adults bending rules. 狡猾な人 is much stronger and implies deep-seated cunning, often used in political or criminal contexts. In casual conversation, ずるい is almost always the better choice.
テストでカンニングするなんてずるい人だ。
Someone who cheats on a test is a crafty person.
その狡猾な人は何年も誰にも気づかれずに横領していた。
That crafty person had been embezzling for years without anyone noticing.
There is no single Japanese adjective that perfectly matches 'crafty' in all contexts. Translating 'crafty person' word-for-word as 細工のある人 or 技巧的な人 would be unnatural. Instead, choose a word based on the specific nuance: sly (ずるい), scheming (策士), or resourceful (やり手).
祖父は村の知恵者だった。
My grandfather was the crafty (wise) person of the village.
あいつは食わせ者だから気をつけろ。
He's a crafty one, so watch out.
あのペテン師にだまされた。
I was tricked by that crafty swindler.
彼は冷酷な謀略家だ。
He is a cold-hearted, crafty schemer.