Chinese Character: 猾
1. Character Basics
Radical: 犭/犬 (quǎn) - Dog radical
Stroke Count: 12 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Huá (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Cunning; crafty; sly; tricky
Extended Meanings:
- Sly; devious
- Crafty; shrewd
- Deceitful; treacherous
- Cunning person; trickster
Additional Notes: Often has a negative connotation, describing someone who is tricky or deceitful
4. Common Words
- 狡猾 (jiǎo huá): Cunning; sly
狐狸是一种狡猾的动物。Foxes are cunning animals.
- 奸猾 (jiān huá): Treacherous; crafty
那个商人很奸猾，总是骗人。That merchant is very treacherous, always cheating people.
- 猾头 (huá tóu): Sly person
他是个猾头，你要小心。He's a sly person, you need to be careful.
- 猾黠 (huá xiá): Cunning and shrewd
这位政治家很猾黠，善于权谋。This politician is very cunning and shrewd, good at political maneuvering.
- 老奸巨猾 (lǎo jiān jù huá): Old and crafty
那个老奸巨猾的家伙很难对付。That old and crafty fellow is hard to deal with.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Adjective; noun
Common Usage:
- As an adjective describing someone who is cunning or tricky
- In compound words with negative connotations
- Sometimes used as a noun referring to a cunning person
Common Structures:
- 很猾 (hěn huá) - Very cunning
- 狡猾的 + Noun: 狡猾的人 (jiǎo huá de rén) - Cunning person
- 动 + 得 + 猾: 耍得猾 (shuǎ de huá) - To play tricks cunningly
Usage Notes: Primarily used in negative contexts to describe deceitful behavior
6. Cultural Background
Chinese Cultural Views: In Chinese culture, being called "猾" is generally considered a negative trait, as honesty and straightforwardness are valued virtues.
Literary References: The character "猾" appears in many Chinese literary works, often describing villains or deceitful characters.
Historical Context: Historically, the term was used to describe corrupt officials or treacherous individuals in ancient China.
Modern Usage: In modern Chinese, "猾" is still used to describe cunning or deceitful people, but can also be used playfully in some contexts.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
不要相信他的话，他很狡猾。
Don't believe what he says, he's very cunning.
Example 2:
那个猾头想出了一个骗人的计划。
That sly person came up with a deceitful plan.
Example 3:
老奸巨猾的他总能找到逃脱的方法。
The old and crafty man can always find a way to escape.
8. Memory Tips
1. Structural Memory: The character 猾 consists of the radical 犭(dog) and 骨 (bone) phonetic component. Think of a cunning dog.
2. Sound Association: The pronunciation "huá" is similar to "滑" (smooth), but 猾 has a more negative meaning related to trickiness.
3. Visual Memory: The 犭 radical suggests an animalistic nature, while the right part looks like a complicated structure, representing complexity of a cunning mind.
4. Word Grouping: Group words containing 猾: 狡猾 (cunning), 奸猾 (treacherous), 猾头 (sly person), 猾黠 (cunning and shrewd), 老奸巨猾 (old and crafty).
5. Sentence Practice: Create simple sentences using 猾 to reinforce your memory, such as "他很狡猾" (He is very cunning).