How to say "cunning" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- i-adjectiveSly, sneaky cunning of the everyday kind: someone who bends the rules to come out ahead. Fits cheating at a game, or a friend who dodges their share of the bill.
- 悪賢いわるがしこいi-adjectiveCunning of the wicked kind: shrewdness bent to crooked, self-serving ends. Often describes the crafty look in a schemer's eyes or a wily, untrustworthy character.
- 悪知恵わるぢえnounUse this when you want a noun: the craft, guile or slyness itself — the crooked cleverness behind someone's schemes — rather than the schemer. Think of sneaky little tricks worked up to get one's way.
- ずる賢いずるがしこいi-adjectiveDevious cunning: genuine shrewdness yoked to sneakiness. Describes a crafty schemer who calculates every angle for advantage; much the same territory as 悪賢い.
- 巧みたくみna-adjectiveNot about deceit: this covers 'cunning' only in its positive sense of skillful, adroit, masterful — deft execution rather than slyness. For a crafty or sneaky person, this is not the word you want.
For sly, deceitful cunning, choose 「ずるい」 for everyday sneakiness, 「悪賢い」 or 「ずる賢い」 for crafty schemers, and 悪知恵 when you need the noun — the guile itself; 「巧み」 serves only 'cunning' in its skillful sense.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- ずるいsly
- 悪賢いわるがしこいcunning
- 悪知恵わるぢえcunning
- 狡賢いずるがしこいdevious
- 巧みたくみskillful
- 老獪ろうかいcunning (acquired with age)
- 奸智かんちcunning
- 怜悧狡猾れいりこうかつcunning
- 奸黠かんかつcunning
- 猾知かっちcunning
- あざといcalculating
- 狡猾こうかつsly
- 食えないくえないshrewd
- 狡知こうちcraft
- 抜け目ないぬけめないshrewd
- 抜け目のないぬけめのないshrewd
- 抜け目がないぬけめがないshrewd
- ずっこいsly
- 油断ならないゆだんならないtreacherous
- 油断のならないゆだんのならないtreacherous
- 小賢しいこざかしいcunning
See also
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