Definitions

guǐ (adjective) sly; crafty
guǐ (adjective) weird; bizarre
guǐ (adjective) contradictory; inconsistent

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 诡 (traditional: 詭) is a phono-semantic compound. Its left component, the speech radical 讠 (traditional: 言), associates it with speech and communication. The right component, 危 (meaning danger or precariousness), serves as the phonetic element while also contributing a sense of instability. Originally, the character referred to deceptive or abnormal speech. This core meaning expanded to describe any deceitful, cunning, or treacherous behavior or situation. It also developed a secondary sense, describing things that are strange, eerie, or bizarre, often defying logical explanation or normal patterns.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个地方有点异。

Zhè gè dìfang yǒudiǎn guǐyì.

This place is a bit eerie.

他识破了敌人的计。

Tā shípòle dírén de guǐjì.

He saw through the enemy's trick.

不要用辩来逃避问题。

Bùyào yòng guǐbiàn lái táobì wèntí.

Do not use sophistry to avoid the problem.

他的行为十分秘。

Tā de xíngwéi shífēn guǐmì.

His behavior is very secretive.

森林里传来异的声音。

Sēnlín lǐ chuánlái guǐyì de shēngyīn.

Eerie sounds came from the forest.

商人有时很诈。

Shāngrén yǒushí hěn guǐzhà.

Merchants are sometimes deceitful.

那个计最终被揭穿了。

Nàgè guǐjì zuìzhōng bèi jiēchuānle.

That trick was eventually exposed.

他的笑容里藏着一丝谲。

Tā de xiàoróng lǐ cángzhe yīsī guǐjué.

There was a hint of cunning in his smile.