刁 (diāo) - Tricky, sly, cunning, artful & also a Chinese surname.

刁Tone 1

diāo ｜ 2 strokes ｜ radical: ㇇

橙丁

刁 · diāo

Tricky, sly, cunning, artful;

also a Chinese surname.

Tricky, sly, cunning, artfulalso a Chinese surname.

Usage highlights

Cunning and craftyMake things difficultVillainCrafty and unrulyArtful and deceitfulSly and treacherous

Synonyms

  • 狡— cunning, crafty
  • 猾— sly, tricky

Antonyms

  • 诚— honest, sincere
  • 朴— simple, unadorned

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is a cunning person (刁滑的人).
  • She made a difficult request (刁难的要求).
  • The villain in the story is very crafty (故事里的反派很刁).
  • That is a common surname in China (那是一个常见的姓氏刁).

Collocations

  • Cunning and crafty(刁滑)
  • Make things difficult(刁难)
  • Villain(刁民)
  • Crafty and unruly(刁顽)
  • Artful and deceitful(刁诈)
  • Sly and treacherous(刁奸)

Idioms

  • Deliberately making things difficult(百般刁难)
  • Cunning and deceitful(刁钻古怪)
  • Crafty and treacherous(刁滑奸诈)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often carries a negative connotation, describing tricky or difficult behavior.
  • Used as a surname with historical roots, notably from the state of Diao during the Spring and Autumn period.

FAQ