play tricks; scheme secretly
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to play tricks; to scheme; to use underhanded tactics
Often used with 暗中 or 背后 to indicate secret scheming. Commonly appears in the pattern 捣鬼有术. Carries a negative connotation.
Tā他
zài在
àn暗
zhōng中
dǎo捣
guǐ鬼
，
xiǎng想
pò破
huài坏
wǒ我
men们
de的
jì计
huà划
。
He is scheming in secret, trying to sabotage our plan.
Zhè这
jiā家
huo伙
dǎo捣
guǐ鬼
yǒu有
shù术
，
nǐ你
dé得
duō多
liú留
gè个
xīn心
yǎn眼
。
This guy is skilled at playing tricks—you need to be on your guard.
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Yī一
dìng定
shì是
yǒu有
rén人
zài在
bèi背
hòu后
dǎo捣
guǐ鬼
，
fǒu否
zé则
shù数
jù据
zěn怎
me么
huì会
chū出
cuò错
？
Someone must be scheming behind the scenes—otherwise how could the data be wrong?
Bié别
gēn跟
wǒ我
dǎo捣
guǐ鬼
，
wǒ我
zhī知
dào道
nǐ你
zài在
xiǎng想
shén什
me么
。
Don't play tricks on me—I know what you're thinking.