小賢しい（こざかしい）
JLPT N1 · i-adjective
Pitch accent: nakadaka (middle-high) — pitch drops after mora 4
Meaning: slyly clever/crafty
Conjugation
| Form | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| te-form | 小賢しくて | こざかしくて |
| ta-form (past) | 小賢しかった | こざかしかった |
| nai-form (negative) | 小賢しくない | こざかしくない |
Example sentences
- 小賢しい言い訳はやめる。 — Stop making those cheeky little excuses.
- 小賢しい態度は好かれない。 — A smart-alecky attitude doesn't win people over.
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “小賢しい” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)