ずる賢(がしこ)い

ずるがしこい
i-adjective
sly; cunning; shrewd
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Presentずる賢(がしこ)いずる賢(がしこ)くない
Pastずる賢(がしこ)かったずる賢(がしこ)くなかった
て formずる賢(がしこ)くてずる賢(がしこ)くなくて
Adverbialずる賢(がしこ)く—
Conditional ばずる賢(がしこ)ければずる賢(がしこ)くなければ
Conditional たらずる賢(がしこ)かったらずる賢(がしこ)くなかったら
1. sly; cunning; shrewd
Clever in a dishonest or underhanded way, using intelligence to cheat or manipulate for personal gain.
あいつはずる賢(がしこ)いやつだ。
That guy is a sly one.
ずる賢(がしこ)い方法(ほうほう)で利益(りえき)を得(え)ている。
They're making a profit through cunning methods.
あの政治家(せいじか)はずる賢(がしこ)くて、いつも自分(じぶん)に都合(つごう)のいいように話(はなし)を持(も)っていく。
That politician is cunning and always steers the conversation in a way that suits them.

Composed of ずるい (sly, unfair) + 賢(かしこ)い (smart, clever). Combines the negative connotation of ずるい with the intelligence of 賢(かしこ)い to describe someone who is clever but uses their intelligence dishonestly. Always negative.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • ずる賢(がしこ)い人(ひと): a cunning person
  • ずる賢(がしこ)い手口(てぐち): cunning tactics
  • ずる賢(がしこ)い方法(ほうほう): a sly method
  • ずる賢(がしこ)く立(た)ち回(まわ)る: to maneuver shrewdly

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • ずるい: sly, unfair — simpler negative word without the "clever" element
  • 悪賢(わるがしこ)い: wicked and clever — very close synonym, slightly stronger
  • 狡猾(こうかつ): crafty, cunning — more literary and formal
  • 賢(かしこ)い: smart, clever — positive, no negative connotation
general
Added 2026.3.29 3:05
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