刁

diāo
㇀ + 𠃌

Definitions

diāo surname Diao
diāo artful; wicked

Etymology

About

刁 originated as a graphical alteration of 刀 (knife), with its final stroke extended and curved to distinguish it visually and semantically. This modification originally conveyed deviation from a straight or expected course, like an erratic cut from a blade. Over time, the meaning shifted toward human behavior, describing someone cunning, tricky, artful, or difficult to deal with. Now primarily an adjective for slyness and deception, it appears in compounds for unscrupulous individuals or deceitful actions, entirely detached from its knife origins.

Example Sentences Hide

不要刁难我。

Bùyào diāonàn wǒ.

Don't make things difficult for me.

这个问题很刁钻。

Zhège wèntí hěn diāozuān.

This question is very tricky.

他经常刁难新员工。

Tā jīngcháng diāonàn xīn yuángōng.

He often makes things difficult for new employees.

历史上有些官员害怕刁民。

Lìshǐ shàng yǒuxiē guānyuán hàipà diāomín.

In history, some officials feared unruly people.

那个对手十分刁滑狡诈。

Nàge duìshǒu shífēn diāohuá jiǎozhà.

That opponent is very cunning and deceitful.

尽管条件刁钻，他仍完成了任务。

Jǐnguǎn tiáojiàn diāozuān, tā réng wánchéngle rènwù.

Although the conditions were tricky, he still completed the task.

为了避免被刁难，她仔细检查了报告。

Wèile bìmiǎn bèi diāonàn, tā zǐxì jiǎnchále bàogào.

To avoid being given a hard time, she carefully checked the report.

在复杂的情况下，他总能想出刁钻的解决方案。

Zài fùzá de qíngkuàng xià, tā zǒng néng xiǎng chū diāozuān de jiějué fāng'àn.

In complex situations, he can always come up with ingenious solutions.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

叼 汈

Component: ㇀

七

Component: 𠃌

成 方 力 司 万 局 节 卫 习 刀 幻 疖

Example Words

刁民 刁蛮 刁钻 刁难 刁妇 放刁