gaau2 waat6狡猾
Jyutpinggaau2 waat6
Yalegáau waaht
Definition
Sly, cunning, or crafty; deceitful and untrustworthy.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes someone who is calculating and untrustworthy, often implying they use underhanded methods to achieve their goals. While it is a standard adjective, it carries a strong negative judgment and is rarely used to describe someone you respect or like. It is more common to use 奸 or 蠱惑 in very casual, everyday speech when describing someone who is being tricky or manipulative.
Examples
He is very sly, you really shouldn't trust him.
Why are you so cunning, always thinking of ways to trick people?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 聰明, which is a positive term for being smart or intelligent. Using 狡猾 to compliment someone's cleverness will sound like an insult because it specifically highlights deceitful intent rather than just mental sharpness.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
