あざとい

あざとい
i-adjective
cunning, calculating; cutely manipulative
personality
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Presentあざといあざとくない
Pastあざとかったあざとくなかった
て formあざとくてあざとくなくて
Adverbialあざとく—
Conditional ばあざとければあざとくなければ
Conditional たらあざとかったらあざとくなかったら
1. cunning, calculating, crafty
Acting in a scheming or manipulative way to achieve one's goals. Traditional meaning with negative connotation.
あざとい手口(てぐち)で客(きゃく)を騙(だま)す。
To deceive customers with cunning tactics.
あざとい女(おんな)だと思(おも)われたくない。
I don't want to be seen as a calculating woman.
あざとい商売(しょうばい)のやり方(かた)だと批判(ひはん)された。
They were criticized for their cunning business practices.
あの政治家(せいじか)のあざとい発言(はつげん)には騙(だま)されない。
I won't be fooled by that politician's calculating remarks.
2. cutely manipulative, knowingly cute
Deliberately acting cute or charming to get what one wants. Modern usage, often used semi-positively or playfully.
あざとい女(おんな)だと思(おも)われたくない。
I don't want to be seen as a calculating woman.
あざといポーズで写真(しゃしん)を撮(と)る。
To take a photo with a knowingly cute pose.
あざとかわいい仕草(しぐさ)がSNSで話題(わだい)になった。
Her cunningly cute mannerisms became a hot topic on social media.

Forms

  • Adverbial: あざとく (cunningly)
  • Noun form: あざとさ (cunning quality)

Semantic shift

Traditionally negative (sense 1), but since around 2010s, sense 2 emerged in youth culture, particularly regarding deliberately cute behavior in fashion, poses, and social media. This newer usage can be:

  • Negative: criticizing calculated behavior
  • Neutral/Positive: acknowledging skillful self-presentation

Modern expressions

Kanji form

小聡明(あざと)い is the historical kanji form but almost never used.

Related Words

Compare: あざとかわいい (calculatedly cute)
Compare: 小悪魔(こあくま) (little devil)
general
Added 2026.1.17 15:52 · Revised 2026.9.4 9:42
06000/06258_azatoi