xảo quyệt

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 巧譎, composed of 巧 (“skillful; cunning”) and 譎 (“deceitful”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [saːw˧˩ kwiət̚˧˨ʔ]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [saːw˧˨ kwiək̚˨˩ʔ]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [saːw˨˩˦ wiək̚˨˩˨]

Adjective

xảo quyệt

1. devious; cunning; cleverly deceitful