alert; smart; clever
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesadjective
alert and clever; quick-witted; shrewd
literaryOften used to describe someone, especially children or animals, who is perceptive, quick to react, and intelligent. Has a slightly more formal or literary feel than its synonyms.
Zhè这
hái孩
zi子
cóng从
xiǎo小
jiù就
tè特
bié别
guāi乖
jué觉
，
dà大
rén人
men们
shuō说
de的
huà话
tā他
dōu都
dǒng懂
。
This child has been very alert and clever since he was little; he understands everything adults say.
Tā她
wéi为
rén人
guāi乖
jué觉
，
hěn很
huì会
chá察
yán言
guān观
sè色
。
She is a shrewd person, very good at reading people's expressions and moods.
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Xiǎo小
sōng松
shǔ鼠
guāi乖
jué觉
de得
hěn很
，
tīng听
dào到
xiǎng响
shēng声
jiù就
pǎo跑
le了
。
The little squirrel is very alert; it ran away as soon as it heard a noise.
Zài在
fù复
zá杂
de的
huán环
jìng境
zhōng中
，
bǎo保
chí持
yī一
fèn份
guāi乖
jué觉
shì是
bì必
yào要
de的
。
In a complex environment, it's necessary to maintain a degree of alertness and cleverness.
Tā他
nà那
yī一
shuāng双
guāi乖
jué觉
de的
yǎn眼
jīng睛
，
sì似
hū乎
néng能
kàn看
tòu透
rén人
xīn心
。
His pair of shrewd eyes seem to be able to see through people's hearts.