形容人聰明狡猾，或事物設計巧妙。
狡猾的
EN: A cunning fox outsmarted the hunters.
翻譯: 一隻狡猾的狐狸智勝了獵人。
詭計多端的
EN: He used cunning tactics to win the game.
翻譯: 他使用了詭計多端的策略來贏得比賽。
巧妙的
EN: The device was a cunning piece of engineering.
翻譯: 這個裝置是一項巧妙的工程設計。
小提醒：「cunning」常帶有負面含義，指為達成目的而使用的狡猾或欺騙手段，與單純的「聰明 (smart)」不同。
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Cunning" from YouTube Videos
Frank Gehry: From 1990, defending a vision for architecture
TED
“I'm so cunning and clever -- I made it quiet and wonderful, But on the outside it does scream out at you a bit.”
1. clever at deceiving people in order to achieve one's aims
狡猾的，狡詐的（為達目的而善於欺騙他人）
He was a cunning politician who knew how to manipulate public opinion.
他是一個狡猾的政客，深知如何操縱公眾輿論。
The fox is often portrayed as a cunning animal in fables.
在寓言故事中，狐狸常被描繪成狡猾的動物。
2. showing skill or ingenuity in achieving a goal, especially by indirect or deceptive means
巧妙的，機靈的（尤指以間接或欺騙手段達成目標）
She devised a cunning plan to get the information without raising suspicion.
她設計了一個巧妙的計劃來獲取資訊，而不引起懷疑。
The thief used a cunning trick to bypass the security system.
小偷用了一個巧妙的伎倆繞過了安全系統。
3. attractive or appealing in a delicate or intricate way
精巧的，精緻可愛的
The cottage had a cunning little fireplace in the corner.
小屋的角落裡有一個精巧的小壁爐。
She wore a cunning hat decorated with silk flowers.
她戴了一頂裝飾著絲綢花朵的精緻帽子。
4. skill or cleverness used to achieve a goal by deceit or evasion
狡猾，狡詐（用欺騙或逃避手段達成目標的技巧）
It took considerable cunning to escape from the prison.
逃離監獄需要相當大的狡詐。
She used her cunning to outwit her opponents in the negotiation.
她在談判中運用她的狡猾智取了對手。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| be cunning | 是狡猾的 | He is cunning and manipulative. (他既狡猾又善於操控。) |
| cunning + noun | 狡猾的… | She devised a cunning plan to outwit her rivals. (她想出了一個狡猾的計畫來智勝對手。) |
| with cunning | 以狡猾的方式 | The fox escaped the trap with cunning. (那隻狐狸狡猾地逃脫了陷阱。) |
| a cunning move/ploy/trick | 一個狡猾的舉動/計策/詭計 | It was a cunning political move. (那是一個狡猾的政治舉動。) |
| as cunning as a fox | 像狐狸一樣狡猾 | The old thief was as cunning as a fox. (那個老賊像狐狸一樣狡猾。) |
EN:She succeeded more by cunning than by strength.
翻譯:她的成功更多是靠詭計，而非力量。
在大多數描述人或事物特質的語境中，使用形容詞形式的 "cunning" 更為常見。
cunning vs sly
兩者都指狡猾，但 'cunning' 更強調為達成目的而展現的機智與策略，而 'sly' 則更側重於隱秘、欺騙或鬼鬼祟祟的特質。
cunning vs crafty
'cunning' 與 'crafty' 非常接近，常可互換。細微差別在於 'crafty' 更常與手工藝或具體的巧妙設計相關聯。
cunning vs devious
'cunning' 描述的是達成目標的智慧與策略，而 'devious' 則強調為達目的所採用的不誠實、迂迴或不道德的手段。
cunning vs shrewd
兩者都指精明的判斷力。'cunning' 常與欺騙或隱藏意圖相關，而 'shrewd' 則更側重於務實、敏銳的商業或實際判斷，通常是正面的。
在轉述他人的話或想法時，用來形容其狡猾或機靈的特質。 EN: She said his plan was cunning, but I think it's just dishonest. 翻譯: 她說他的計畫很狡猾，但我覺得那只是不誠實。
EN:Everyone thought his answer was cunning, avoiding the real issue.
翻譯:大家都覺得他的回答很狡黠，迴避了真正的問題。
在口語中，透過重音或語調來強調其狡猾的程度，常帶有負面或驚嘆的意味。 EN: That was a cunning move—I didn't see it coming at all! 翻譯: 那真是個狡猾的招數——我完全沒料到！
EN:Oh, he's so cunning; he always finds a way to get what he wants.
翻譯:喔，他太狡詐了；總是有辦法得到他想要的。
在思考如何描述某人或策略時，作為短暫停頓後的形容詞，有時帶有猶豫或評估的語氣。 EN: His approach is... cunning, to say the least. 翻譯: 他的做法嘛…至少可以說是狡猾的。
EN:Well, it's a... cunning plan, but is it ethical?
翻譯:嗯，這是個…機巧的計畫，但合乎道德嗎？
正式寫作注意：在學術或正式商業文件中，應避免使用「cunning」來描述策略或人物，因其帶有較強的主觀負面色彩。建議改用更中性的詞彙，如「strategic」（戰略性的）、「shrewd」（精明的）或「ingenious」（巧妙的），以保持客觀性。
cunning plan
adj + n
狡猾的計畫
as cunning as a fox
as adj as n
像狐狸一樣狡猾
cunning scheme
adj + n
狡猾的計謀/詭計
cunning ploy
adj + n
狡猾的策略/手段
cunning intellect
adj + n
狡猾的才智
cunning trick
adj + n
狡猾的把戲/花招
cunning escape
adj + n
狡猾的逃脫
show cunning
v + n
展現狡猾/施展詭計
×He is a very cunning man, he always helps others.
✓He is a very cunning man, he always tricks others.
"cunning" 帶有負面含義，意指狡猾、詭計多端，而非正面助人。使用時需注意語境，通常描述欺騙或操縱行為。
×He is cunning in solving math problems.
✓He is clever/skilled in solving math problems.
"cunning" 通常不描述單純的智力或技能，而是帶有欺騙性或為達目的不擇手段的機智。描述學術或技術能力時，應使用 "clever", "skilled", "adept" 等詞。
×This is a very cunning design of the building.
✓This is a very clever/ingenious design of the building.
描述物體（如設計、裝置）時，"cunning" 較為古舊或文學化，現代英語中較少使用。通常用 "clever", "ingenious", "smart" 來形容巧妙設計。
×She looked at him with a cunning smile.
✓She looked at him with a sly/ knowing smile.
雖然 "cunning" 可形容表情，但 "sly smile" 或 "knowing smile" 更為常見自然。"cunning" 作形容詞修飾表情時，可能顯得不自然或過於強烈。
×He is more cunninger than his brother.
✓He is more cunning than his brother.
"cunning" 的比較級為 "more cunning"，而非 "cunninger"。這是雙音節形容詞比較級的不規則變化，需使用 "more"。