Meanings of 猾
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About 猾
Podcast: 猾
Podcast: 猾
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AI Study Notes for 猾
狡 (jiǎo) - use 猾 (huá) when emphasizing craftiness with a negative tone, while 狡 (jiǎo) can imply cleverness without the same level of deceit.
Be careful not to confuse 猾 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This term is usually used in informal contexts to describe negative characteristics, and it often collocates with words like '人' (person) and '手段' (means). Remember that it should not be used to positively describe someone's cleverness.
While 猾 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to the HSK 4 theme of describing personality traits. Focus on the context in which this word is used and try to pair it with other descriptive words you learn in your studies.
Learners often confuse 猾 with the more neutral term 聪明 (cōngmíng), which means 'smart' or 'clever.' Remember, 猾 implies dishonesty, so use it only for negative contexts.
Pronunciation of 猾
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Etymology of 猾
Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 骨 represents the sound.
dog
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 猾
Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 骨 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half犭 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half骨 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaydog
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 猾? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 猾?
Decomposition of 猾
Identify the Components
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How to say sly in Chinese
“sly” in Chinese is猾
The character 猾 (huá) refers to someone who is sly, crafty, or cunning. It is often used to describe individuals who employ deceitful tactics to achieve their goals. This term carries a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of honesty or integrity.
When to use 猾
Be careful not to confuse 猾 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This term is usually used in informal contexts to describe negative characteristics, and it often collocates with words like '人' (person) and '手段' (means). Remember that it should not be used to positively describe someone's cleverness.
猾 or something close to it
狡 (jiǎo) - use 猾 (huá) when emphasizing craftiness with a negative tone, while 狡 (jiǎo) can imply cleverness without the same level of deceit.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 猾 with the more neutral term 聪明 (cōngmíng), which means 'smart' or 'clever.' Remember, 猾 implies dishonesty, so use it only for negative contexts.
Write 猾
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Practice writing 猾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 猾
猾 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
他确确实实是个老奸巨____的家伙。
He's a sly old beggar if ever there was one.
Example Sentences for 猾 (4)
Word Family of 猾
Compound Meaning
What does 狡猾 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 猾
猾 is a negative term used to describe someone who is deceitful or cunning.
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