1.
sly, cunning, crafty
Cleverly deceptive or dishonest in achieving one's aims.
彼は狡い手を使った。
He used sneaky tactics.
狡いことをしないで正々堂々と戦いなさい。
Don't play dirty - fight fair and square.
あの人は狡いやり方で金を儲けた。
That person made money through sneaky methods.
2.
unfair, sneaky
Not following the rules or playing fairly.
ずるい！私も欲しい！
No fair! I want some too!
狡いことをしないで正々堂々と戦いなさい。
Don't play dirty - fight fair and square.
一人だけ休むなんて狡い。
It's unfair that only you get to take a break.
狡い describes someone who is sly, cunning, or unfair in their methods.
FORMS:
- 狡く (adverbial form)
- 狡さ (noun form - slyness)
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 狡い手を使う (to use sneaky tactics)
- 狡休みをする (to skip school/work with a fake excuse)
- ずるいなあ (that's not fair!)
REGISTER:
Often used by children when complaining about unfairness. In adult contexts, it can describe more serious deceptive behavior.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 卑怯 (cowardly, unfair - stronger criticism)
- 抜け目がない (shrewd, not sly but clever)
- 狡猾 (cunning, crafty - formal/literary)