About
The character 狡, composed of the canine radical 犭 and the phonetic element 交, initially described dog-like qualities such as ferocity or energy in early Chinese texts, with its structure clearly linking the concept to animals through the radical while using 交 for sound. Its meaning gradually transformed from these literal canine attributes to more abstract human traits of guile and trickiness, a common semantic shift in the language where animal references become metaphors for human behavior. This change solidified the modern sense of 'crafty' or 'sly,' while the character's structural integrity, with the radical anchoring its meaning and the component signaling pronunciation, has been maintained throughout its history, reflecting a consistent etymological foundation despite the broadening of its semantic scope. The negative implication of cunning has been consistently present in literary and common usage, preserving the character's core semantic value despite the evolution in its application from physical vigor to intellectual deceit.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他非常狡猾。
这只狐狸很狡猾。
狡诈的人不可信。
他的狡辩没有用处。
商人用狡猾的手段赚钱。
尽管他狡辩，但真相已明。
他的狡猾计划最终失败了。
在谈判中，他表现出狡诈的一面。