狡(ずる)い

ずるい
i-adjective
sly, cunning, unfair
descriptive
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present狡(ずる)い狡(ずる)くない
Past狡(ずる)かった狡(ずる)くなかった
て form狡(ずる)くて狡(ずる)くなくて
Adverbial狡(ずる)く—
Conditional ば狡(ずる)ければ狡(ずる)くなければ
Conditional たら狡(ずる)かったら狡(ずる)くなかったら
1. sly, cunning, crafty
Cleverly deceptive or dishonest in achieving one's aims.
彼(かれ)は狡(ずる)い手(て)を使(つか)った。
He used sneaky tactics.
狡(ずる)いことをしないで正々堂々(せいせいどうどう)と戦(たたか)いなさい。
Don't play dirty - fight fair and square.
あの人(ひと)は狡(ずる)いやり方(かた)で金(かね)を儲(もう)けた。
That person made money through sneaky methods.
2. unfair, sneaky
Not following the rules or playing fairly.
ずるい！私(わたし)も欲(ほ)しい！
No fair! I want some too!
狡(ずる)いことをしないで正々堂々(せいせいどうどう)と戦(たたか)いなさい。
Don't play dirty - fight fair and square.
一人(ひとり)だけ休(やす)むなんて狡(ずる)い。
It's unfair that only you get to take a break.

狡(ずる)い describes someone who is sly, cunning, or unfair in their methods.

Forms

  • 狡(ずる)く (adverbial form)
  • 狡(ずる)さ (noun form - slyness)

Common expressions

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Often used by children when complaining about unfairness. In adult contexts, it can describe more serious deceptive behavior.

Similar words

Related Words

Synonym: 卑怯(ひきょう) (cowardly, unfair (stronger))
Compare: 抜(ぬ)け目(め)がない (shrewd, not sly but clever)
Compare: 狡猾(こうかつ) (cunning, crafty)
Compare: こすい (sly)
Compare: 計算高(けいさんだか)い (calculating)
Compare: ずる賢(がしこ)い (sly)
Compare: 小賢(こざか)しい (impudently clever)
Compare: 不正直(ふしょうじき) (dishonest)
general
Added 2026.1.13 10:47 · Revised 2026.9.30 6:54
03500/03929_zurui