use petty tricks; scheme; be calculating
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to employ petty tricks; to scheme; to be calculating
informalDescribes someone who acts in a calculating or manipulative way, often to gain small advantages. Usually carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting the person is being overly clever in a petty or insincere way. Commonly used in spoken language due to the erhua suffix.
Bié别
kàn看
tā他
rén人
bù不
dà大
，
dào倒
hěn很
huì会
shuǎ耍
xīn心
yǎn眼
r儿
。
Don't let his young age fool you—he's very good at playing tricks.
Zuò做
rén人
yào要
zhēn真
chéng诚
，
bù不
yào要
lǎo老
shì是
shuǎ耍
xīn心
yǎn眼
r儿
。
One should be sincere, not always scheming.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Tā他
men们
liǎ俩
dōu都
zài在
shuǎ耍
xīn心
yǎn眼
r儿
，
hù互
xiāng相
shì试
tàn探
。
Both of them are playing mind games, testing each other.
Bié别
gēn跟
wǒ我
shuǎ耍
xīn心
yǎn眼
r儿
，
wǒ我
zhī知
dào道
nǐ你
zài在
xiǎng想
shén什
me么
。
Don't try any tricks on me—I know what you're thinking.