狡猾 (jiǎo huá) is an adjective meaning 'crafty' or 'sly' — describing someone who is clever in a deceitful, cunning way, often to gain advantage or avoid consequences. The character 狡 (jiǎo) originally relates to foxes and implies sharpness or trickery, while 猾 (huá) means 'deceitful' or 'untrustworthy'; together, they form a compound emphasizing clever but morally questionable behavior. It carries a distinctly negative connotation and is rarely used as a compliment.

This word is frequently used in storytelling and everyday speech to describe people — especially those who lie, manipulate, or evade responsibility — and is strongly associated with foxes in Chinese folklore, where the fox symbolizes sly intelligence. It’s common in warnings ('Don’t trust him — he’s 狡猾!') and moral lessons, and appears in idioms like 狡兔三窟 (a crafty rabbit has three burrows), highlighting strategic deception.