あざとい

Japanese

Etymology

Ultimate derivation unknown. Also rarely found with unvoiced pronunciation as あさとい (asatoi), suggesting a possible connection with 浅い (asai, “shallow”). Alternatively, the initial aza- may be related to the aza- in 嘲笑う (azawarau, “to deride, to laugh at”), 欺く (azamuku, “to deceive”), 嘲る (azakeru, “to mock, to jeer at, to ridicule”).

First cited to 1713.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) あざと​い [àzátóꜜì] (Nakadaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [a̠za̠to̞i]

Adjective

あざとい • (azatoi) -i (adverbial あざとく (azatoku))

1. [from 1713] not thought through, unwise, imprudent, shallow or superficial of thought, shortsighted, childish

   Synonyms: 愚か (oroka, “unwise”), 無思慮 (mushiryo, “imprudent, not thought through”), 浅はか (asahaka, “shallow of thought, not thought through”), 子供っぽい (kodomoppoi, “childish”)

2. [from 1724] crooked, unscrupulous, wily, thoroughly greedy

   Synonyms: 悪辣 (akuratsu, “villanous, wily”), あくどい (akudoi, “unscrupulous, wily”), 貪欲 (don'yoku, “greedy”)

Inflection

Inflection of あざとい

Stem forms
Imperfective (未然形)	あざとかろ	azatokaro
Continuative (連用形)	あざとく	azatoku
Terminal (終止形)	あざとい	azatoi
Attributive (連体形)	あざとい	azatoi
Hypothetical (仮定形)	あざとけれ	azatokere
Imperative (命令形)	あざとかれ	azatokare
Key constructions
Informal negative	あざとくない	azatoku nai
Informal past	あざとかった	azatokatta
Informal negative past	あざとくなかった	azatoku nakatta
Formal	あざといです	azatoi desu
Formal negative	あざとくないです	azatoku nai desu
Formal past	あざとかったです	azatokatta desu
Formal negative past	あざとくなかったです	azatoku nakatta desu
Conjunctive	あざとくて	azatokute
Conditional	あざとければ	azatokereba
Provisional	あざとかったら	azatokattara
Volitional	あざとかろう	azatokarō
Adverbial	あざとく	azatoku
Degree	あざとさ	azatosa