狡 猾(こうかつ)

こうかつ

na-adjective, noun

cunning; crafty; sly

personality evaluation

1. cunning; crafty; sly

Skilled at achieving one's ends through deceit or manipulation; clever in a dishonest or underhanded way.

狡猾(こうかつ)な策略(さくりゃく)。

A cunning scheme.

狡猾(こうかつ)な政治家(せいじか)に騙(だま)された。

I was deceived by a cunning politician.

あの商人(しょうにん)は狡猾(こうかつ)で有名(ゆうめい)だ。

That merchant is famous for being sly.

Common collocations

狡猾(こうかつ)な策略(さくりゃく) - cunning scheme
狡猾(こうかつ)な手口(てぐち) - sly trick
狡猾(こうかつ)な人間(にんげん) - crafty person
狡猾(こうかつ)さ - cunningness (noun form)

Usage

Strong negative connotation. Implies intelligence used for dishonest or manipulative purposes.

Similar words

巧妙(こうみょう) - clever, ingenious (more neutral, can be positive)
ずる賢(がしこ)い - sly, crafty (more casual)
悪(わる)賢(がしこ)い - cunning (emphasizes bad intent)

Related Words

Synonym: ずる賢(がしこ)い (sly, crafty (casual))

Compare: 巧妙(こうみょう) (clever, ingenious)

Compare: 悪賢(わるがしこ)い (cunning)

Compare: 狡(ずる)い (sly, cunning, unfair)

Compare: こすい (sly)

general

Added 2026.1.20 22:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

07500/07639_koukatsu