奸猾 (jiān huá) is an adjective describing someone who is both treacherous and sly—deceitful in intent and cunning in method. The first character 奸 means 'wicked', 'unscrupulous', or 'treacherous', often implying moral corruption or betrayal of trust. The second character 猾 means 'sly', 'crafty', or 'shrewd', suggesting cleverness used for manipulation rather than wisdom. Together, they form a compound that emphasizes a dangerous combination: not just dishonesty, but intelligent, calculated deceit.

This word is frequently used to describe people—especially villains, con artists, or untrustworthy officials—but also appears metaphorically in animal-related contexts, where creatures like foxes (狐狸) are stereotyped as 奸猾 in Chinese folklore. It carries strong negative connotations and is more literary or formal than everyday synonyms like 狡猾; it’s common in classical texts, modern novels, and political commentary, but rarely used in casual speech among friends.