láu lỉnh
crafty; slyly clever; sharp; mischievous and quick-witted
Usage note
Used almost exclusively for kids, teenagers, or young characters who show an endearing, sharp, or playful cunning rather than malicious deceitfulness.
Prefer xảo quyệt or gian trá for sinister, deceitful, or malicious trickery.
Often pairs with behavior terms to form nét láu lỉnh (a crafty facial expression) or cậu bé láu lỉnh (a sharp, mischievous boy).
Examples
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Trong băng “tứ quậy, Lâm là đứa láu lỉnh nhất và cũng nhiều trò nhất.
In the "four troublemakers" gang, Lam was the craftiest and had the most tricks up his sleeve.