猾

huá

犭 + 骨

Definitions

huá sly

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 骨 represents the sound.

Semantic: 犭 Phonetic: 骨

About

The character 猾 is a phono-semantic compound, with the animal radical 犭 on the left indicating an association with beasts, and the phonetic component 骨 on the right supplying the pronunciation. In its earliest historical usage, it referred to a specific mythical creature: a wild, untamed animal without bones; however, this original zoological definition eventually became entirely obsolete. The meaning then shifted to human behavior, describing those who are cunning, deceitful, and treacherous, often drawing an implicit comparison to the unpredictability of wild animals. In modern Chinese, it appears mainly in compound words that denote crafty individuals or the deceitful tricks they use to achieve personal goals.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

那个商人很狡猾。

Nàge shāngrén hěn jiǎohuá.

That merchant is very cunning.

狐狸是一种狡猾的动物。

Húli shì yī zhǒng jiǎohuá de dòngwù.

The fox is a cunning animal.

不要被他狡猾的外表欺骗。

Bùyào bèi tā jiǎohuá de wàibiǎo qīpiàn.

Don't be deceived by his cunning appearance.

这个计划设计得十分狡猾。

Zhège jìhuà shèjì de shífēn jiǎohuá.

This plan is designed in a very cunning way.

他用了狡猾的手段赢得了比赛。

Tā yòngle jiǎohuá de shǒuduàn yíng dé le bǐsài.

He used cunning tactics to win the match.

对手的狡猾策略让我们吃了亏。

Duìshǒu de jiǎohuá cèlüè ràng wǒmen chīle kuī.

The opponent's cunning strategy caused us a loss.

识破他狡猾的谎言需要智慧。

Shípò tā jiǎohuá de huǎngyán xūyào zhìhuì.

It takes wisdom to see through his cunning lies.

面对如此狡猾的辩解，调查陷入了僵局。

Miànduì rúcǐ jiǎohuá de biànjiě, diàochá xiànrùle jiāngjú.

Faced with such a cunning defense, the investigation reached a deadlock.

Related Characters

Component: 犭

Component: 骨

猾