诡

詭

guǐ

危 + 讠

Frequency#2578

Definitions

guǐ (adjective) sly; crafty

guǐ (adjective) weird; bizarre

guǐ (adjective) contradictory; inconsistent

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 危 represents the sound. Simplified form of 詭.

Semantic: 讠 Phonetic: 危

About

The character "诡" derives from its traditional form "詭", structured with the speech radical "言" and the phonetic component "危". Etymologically, it initially denoted deceptive or dishonest speech, with its meaning gradually broadening to include ideas of cunning, trickery, and later peculiarity or strangeness. The simplified form "诡" retains the phonetic element "危" while modifying the radical to "讠", and its semantic evolution reflects a shift from specific verbal deceit to more abstract associations with craftiness and abnormal circumstances.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个地方有点诡异。

Zhè gè dìfang yǒudiǎn guǐyì.

This place is a bit eerie.

他识破了敌人的诡计。

Tā shípòle dírén de guǐjì.

He saw through the enemy's trick.

不要用诡辩来逃避问题。

Bùyào yòng guǐbiàn lái táobì wèntí.

Do not use sophistry to avoid the problem.

他的行为十分诡秘。

Tā de xíngwéi shífēn guǐmì.

His behavior is very secretive.

森林里传来诡异的声音。

Sēnlín lǐ chuánlái guǐyì de shēngyīn.

Eerie sounds came from the forest.

商人有时很诡诈。

Shāngrén yǒushí hěn guǐzhà.

Merchants are sometimes deceitful.

那个诡计最终被揭穿了。

Nàgè guǐjì zuìzhōng bèi jiēchuānle.

That trick was eventually exposed.

他的笑容里藏着一丝诡谲。

Tā de xiàoróng lǐ cángzhe yīsī guǐjué.

There was a hint of cunning in his smile.

Related Characters

Component: 危

Component: 讠

诡