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こすっからい Japanese meaning | Kotomora

こすっからい

こ

す

っ

か

ら

い

Meanings

1

i-adjective

sly; crafty; cunning

usually written using kana alone

Colloquial adjective describing someone who is shrewd in a self-serving, underhanded way. Often carries a negative, critical tone.

あの男おとこはこすっからくて、すぐに他た人にんを出だし抜ぬこうとする。
That guy is sly and always tries to outsmart others.

彼かの女じょのこすっからい笑わらい方かたが気きに入いらない。

I don't like her cunning way of laughing.

Kanji

狡cunning, sly, crafty
辛spicy, bitter, hot

Similar words

ずるい
ずるい is a more common and general word for 'sly' or 'unfair'. こすっからい is more colloquial and emphasizes a crafty, underhanded cleverness.
狡こう猾かつ
狡猾 is a formal, written term for 'cunning' or 'crafty'. こすっからい is casual and spoken, with a stronger negative nuance.

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain. It is likely a colloquial formation from こすい (sly) with an emphatic or pejorative suffix, but the details are unclear.