Translation guide
The English word 'cunning' describes someone who is clever at achieving goals through deceit or evasion. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various words and phrases that emphasize different aspects: slyness, craftiness, strategic cleverness, or underhandedness. The most common and versatile term is ずるい (zurui), which covers a wide range of situations from playful cheating to serious dishonesty.
Describing a person, action, or plan that is clever but dishonest or underhanded, often to gain an unfair advantage.
The most common and versatile word for 'cunning' in everyday Japanese. It can describe people, actions, or methods that are sly, crafty, or unfair. It ranges from mild (like cheating in a game) to serious (like swindling someone). Often used in casual conversation.
彼はずるい方法で試験に合格した。
He passed the exam by cunning means.
ずるい！ずるい！
That's not fair! (You're cheating!)
A more formal and literary term for cunning, emphasizing craftiness and slyness. Often used in written descriptions of villains or shrewd politicians. It carries a stronger negative connotation than ずるい.
彼は狡猾な政治家だ。
He is a cunning politician.
Literally 'bad-clever', this adjective describes someone who is cunning in a malicious or wicked way. It implies intelligence used for harmful purposes.
悪賢い詐欺師に騙された。
I was tricked by a cunning swindler.
A combination of ずるい and 賢い (clever), meaning sly and crafty. Similar to 悪賢い but slightly less malicious; often used for someone who is shrewd and manipulative.
ずる賢い奴だな。
What a cunning guy.
Describing intelligence used skillfully to achieve a goal, often in a way that is admired. This can overlap with 'shrewd' or 'wily'.
Means ingenious, clever, or skillful. While not inherently negative, it can describe cunning plans or schemes when the context involves deception. It emphasizes the cleverness of the method.
巧妙な手口で金を騙し取った。
He swindled money through a cunning scheme.
彼の巧妙な戦略に感心した。
I admired his cunning strategy.
Describes someone who is experienced and wily, often with a nuance of being crafty due to age or experience. It can be neutral or slightly negative, like 'sly old fox'.
A noun meaning 'strategist' or 'schemer'. It can be used positively for a brilliant tactician, or negatively for a cunning plotter. Context determines the nuance.
Focusing on the dishonesty and trickery aspect of cunning, often involving lies or manipulation.
A noun meaning swindle, fraud, or trickery. It refers to cunning acts of deception, often for financial gain. Commonly used in compounds like ペテン師 (swindler).
彼の話はペテンだった。
His story was a cunning lie.
A formal term for deception or deceit. It implies a cunning concealment of truth, often used in philosophical or critical contexts.
Referring to cunning as an abstract concept or a specific act of slyness.
The noun form of ずるい, meaning slyness or cunning. It refers to the quality of being unfair or crafty.
彼のずるさには呆れる。
I'm amazed at his cunning.
The noun form of 狡猾, meaning craftiness or cunning. More formal and literary.
その計画の狡猾さに気づかなかった。
I didn't notice the cunning of that plan.
A literary term for cunning or wiles, often used in historical or dramatic contexts. It implies a deep, scheming intelligence.
彼は奸知に長けた人物だ。
He is a person of great cunning.
ずるい is the everyday word for 'cunning' and often implies unfairness or cheating. 狡猾 is more formal and emphasizes crafty, scheming behavior, often with a negative moral judgment. 巧妙 focuses on the cleverness or ingenuity of a method, and can be positive or negative depending on context. Use ずるい for casual situations, 狡猾 for written or formal descriptions of villainous cunning, and 巧妙 when you want to highlight the skillfulness of a cunning act.
ずるいことをするな。
Don't be cunning (don't cheat).
狡猾な手口で被害者を騙した。
He deceived the victim with a cunning scheme.
巧妙なトリックに引っかかった。
I fell for a cunning trick.
In English, 'cunning' can sometimes be used playfully or admiringly (e.g., 'a cunning plan'). In Japanese, directly translating this with ずるい or 狡猾 usually sounds negative. To express admiration for cleverness, use words like 巧妙 (ingenious) or 賢い (clever/smart) instead, unless the context clearly involves trickery that is being praised.
老獪な商人は簡単には騙されない。
A cunning merchant is not easily fooled.
He is known as a cunning strategist in politics.
His words are full of cunning deceit.