黠

xiá

吉 + 黑

Definitions

xiá (phonetic); crafty

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 黑 represents the meaning and 吉 represents the sound.

Semantic: 黑 Phonetic: 吉

About

黠 is a phonosemantic compound describing human intelligence with a connotation of craftiness, cunning, or slyness. The semantic component 黑 (black) ties the character to darkness, suggesting intelligence that operates in the shadows, hidden, deceitful, and obscure. The phonetic component 吉 (jí), meaning 'auspicious' or 'lucky', serves only to indicate the pronunciation. The character defines a shrewd, sharp-witted, cunning personality, not straightforward wisdom, using the black radical to imbue the intelligence with trickery, manipulation, and self-serving astuteness.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他有点狡黠。

Tā yǒudiǎn jiǎoxiá.

He is a bit cunning.

这个孩子很慧黠。

Zhège háizi hěn huìxiá.

This child is very clever and cunning.

狡黠的狐狸逃走了。

Jiǎoxiá de húli táozǒu le.

The cunning fox escaped.

她露出狡黠的微笑。

Tā lùchū jiǎoxiá de wēixiào.

She showed a cunning smile.

他的狡黠让人难以信任。

Tā de jiǎoxiá ràng rén nányǐ xìnrèn.

His cunning makes it hard to trust him.

那个商人以狡黠著称。

Nàgè shāngrén yǐ jiǎoxiá zhùchēng.

That merchant is known for his cunning.

尽管他外表憨厚，内心却十分狡黠。

Jǐnguǎn tā wàibiǎo hānhòu, nèixīn què shífēn jiǎoxiá.

Although he looks honest and simple, he is very cunning inside.

在复杂的谈判中，她的狡黠发挥了关键作用。

Zài fùzá de tánpàn zhōng, tā de jiǎoxiá fāhuī le guānjiàn zuòyòng.

In the complex negotiations, her cunning played a key role.

Related Characters

Component: 吉

Component: 黑

黠