老奸巨滑 lǎo jiān jù huá cunning and sly

Explanation

形容人老练而奸诈狡猾。

Describes a person as experienced and cunning.

Origin Story

话说在江南水乡，住着一位年过半百的商人老张，他为人老奸巨滑，生意做得风生水起。他常年游走于各地，买卖绸缎，积累了丰厚的家财。一次，他去北方进货，偶然结识了一位年轻的书生李文，李文家境贫寒，一心想通过科举考试改变命运，却苦于没有盘缠。老张见李文为人老实，便起了歹心，表面上装作慷慨大方，借给李文一笔巨款，实则暗中做了手脚，在借据上加上了许多苛刻的条件，并且约定好还款期限。李文不疑有他，满心感激地收下了银子，认真准备科考。时间飞逝，转眼到了还款之日，李文却因科考失利，无法按时归还欠款。老张便以迅雷不及掩耳之势，将李文告上公堂。面对老张的步步紧逼，李文无力招架，只能含泪认罪。此事传开后，乡邻们都为李文感到惋惜，也对老张的老奸巨滑感到愤慨。老张虽然赚得了钱财，却失去了人心，最终落得个臭名昭著的下场。

huà shuō zài jiāng nán shuǐ xiāng, zhù zhe yī wèi nián guò bàn bǎi de shāng rén lǎo zhāng, tā wéi rén lǎo jiān jù huá, shēng yì zuò de fēng shēng shuǐ qǐ. tā cháng nián yóu zǒu yú gè dì, mǎi mài chóu duàn, jī lěi le fēng hòu de jiā cái. yī cì, tā qù běi fāng jìn huò, ǒu rán jié shí le yī wèi nián qīng de shū shēng lǐ wén, lǐ wén jiā jìng pín hán, yī xīn xiǎng tōng guò kē jǔ kǎo shì gǎi biàn mìng yùn, què kǔ yú méi yǒu pán chán. lǎo zhāng jiàn lǐ wén wéi rén lǎo shí, biàn qǐ le dǎi xīn, biǎo miàn shàng zhuāng zuò kāng kǎi dà fāng, jiè gěi lǐ wén yī bǐ jù kuǎn, shí zé àn zhōng zuò le shǒu jiǎo, zài jiè jù shàng jiā shang le xǔ duō kē kè de tiáo jiàn, bìng qiě yuē dìng hǎo huán kuǎn qī xiàn. lǐ wén bù yí yǒu tā, mǎn xīn gǎnjī de shōu xià le yín zi, rèn zhēn zhǔn bèi kē kǎo. shí jiān fēi shì, zhuǎn yǎn dào le huán kuǎn zhī rì, lǐ wén què yīn kē kǎo shī lì, wú fǎ àn shí guī huán qiàn kuǎn. lǎo zhāng biàn yǐ xùn léi bù jí yǎn ěr zhī shì, jiāng lǐ wén gào shàng gōng táng. miàn duì lǎo zhāng de bù bù jǐn bī, lǐ wén wú lì zhāo jià, zhǐ néng hán lèi rèn zuì. cǐ shì chuán kāi hòu, xiāng lín men dōu wèi lǐ wén gǎn dào wán xī, yě duì lǎo zhāng de lǎo jiān jù huá gǎn dào fèn kǎi. lǎo zhāng suī rán zhuàn dé le qián cái, què shī qù le rén xīn, zuì zhōng luò dé gè chòu míng zhāo zhù de xià chǎng.

Once upon a time, in a picturesque water town in southern China, lived a middle-aged merchant named Lao Zhang. Known for his cunning and sly nature, Lao Zhang's business thrived. He traveled extensively, trading silk and amassing a considerable fortune. During one of his northern trading trips, he met a young scholar, Li Wen, who was struggling financially and desperately hoping to pass the imperial examinations to improve his lot. Seeing Li Wen's honest nature, Lao Zhang, in a display of calculated generosity, lent Li Wen a substantial sum. However, he secretly manipulated the loan agreement, inserting harsh terms and a strict repayment deadline. Unsuspecting, Li Wen gratefully accepted the money and diligently prepared for the exams. Time passed, and the repayment date arrived. Due to his failure in the examinations, Li Wen was unable to repay the loan on time. Lao Zhang, seizing the opportunity, promptly sued Li Wen. Overwhelmed, Li Wen had no choice but to admit his debt. News of this spread throughout the town, evoking sympathy for Li Wen and anger at Lao Zhang's deceit. While Lao Zhang had gained wealth, he lost the respect of his community and ultimately acquired a notorious reputation.

Usage

作谓语、定语；形容人老练而奸诈狡猾。

zuò wèiyǔ, dìngyǔ; xiāóng rén lǎo liàn ér jiān zhà jiǎo huá

As predicate or attributive; describes a person as experienced and cunning.

Examples

• 他老奸巨滑，不可轻信。

  tā lǎo jiān jù huá, bù kě qīng xìn。

  He is cunning and sly, not to be trusted.

• 此人老奸巨滑，令人防不胜防。

  cǐ rén lǎo jiān jù huá, lìng rén fáng bù shèng fáng

  This person is cunning and sly, making him unpredictable.

Related Idioms

• 狡猾

• 奸诈

Opposite Idioms

• 老老实实

• 正直