猾

A phono-semantic compound composed of:

犬 (dog; beast) — semantic component, indicates animal nature or instinctive behavior, often associated with untamed or morally suspect traits;

骨 (bone) — phonetic component, supplies the sound "hwal" and adds a nuance of hardness or inner structure.

The character portrays animal-like cleverness supported by a hard, calculating core, suggesting not mere intelligence but craftiness used for advantage.

Core compound:

교활 (狡猾) — cunning; sly; crafty

Related expressions:

간활 (奸猾) — treacherous and cunning

호활 (狐猾) — fox-like cunning (literary)

猾 does not mean simple cleverness or wisdom. It specifically refers to intelligence used in a deceptive, morally questionable way.

Thus, 猾 often implies:

- hidden motives

- manipulation

- survival-oriented cleverness

It is evaluative and strongly negative in tone.

Related characters:

狡 — crafty; sly

奸 — treacherous; wicked

詐 — deceit; fraud

偽 — false; fake

智 — wisdom (contrastive)

Among these, 猾 focuses most on cunning as a behavioral trait, rather than a single act of deception.

Classical texts frequently use 猾 to describe:

- corrupt officials

- rebels or bandits

- deceitful advisers

The animal radical reinforces the idea of instinctive, non-ethical cleverness.

Classical citations:

《左傳》 (Zuo Zhuan)

「狡猾之人，不可近也」

“Cunning and crafty people must not be kept close.”

《史記》 (Records of the Grand Historian)

「其人奸猾，多權詐」

“That man was treacherous and cunning, full of schemes.”