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狡賢い (ずるがしこい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

狡ずる賢がしこい

ず

る

が

し

こ

い

JLPTN1

Meanings

1

i-adjective

sly; cunning; crafty; devious

Describes someone who uses clever but underhanded tactics for personal gain. Often carries a negative moral judgment.

彼かれはずる賢がしこい手て口ぐちで契けい約やくを取とった。
He got the contract through a sly trick.

あの

子こ

は

ずる

賢がしこ

く

て

、

いつも

宿しゅく

題だい

を

写うつ

し

て

いる

。

That kid is cunning and always copies homework.

Written forms

狡ずる賢がしこいUsage3%
Standard kanji spelling, marked as common.
ずる賢がしこいUsage63%
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, also used.
ずるがしこいUsage34%

Kanji

賢intelligent, wise, wisdom
狡cunning, sly, crafty

Similar words

狡こう猾かつ
More formal and literary term for cunning or craftiness, often used in written or serious contexts.
ずるい
A simpler, more colloquial adjective meaning 'unfair' or 'sly', often used in everyday speech.

Etymology

Compound of ずる (sly, cunning) and 賢い (clever, smart). The exact origin of ずる is uncertain, but it may be related to the adjectival noun ずる (unfair, sly).