What is an English equivalent of the Chinese noun 心眼?












3















Looking for an English equivalent of the Chinese noun 心眼 if there is any, or the best way to describe it.
If someones has 心眼, then you can say they are sly.



But, what do they have if they are sly?



To try and describe the word's meaning, it is a noun that means something like figurative 'brains', 'sneaky' or 'trickery'. If someone is said to have bad 心眼, it means they can think up trickery and be evil to deliberately sabotage someone, or at least to work a situation to their advantage/avoid being disadvantaged. 心眼 on it's own doesn't necessarily have to be evil, it can also be to protect oneself. For example:




  • Say you are going to a party out of necessity but you don't really want to go. In Chinese, if you had 'a little 心眼'(多一点心眼), you can say you still have things to do, and leave early.


  • An example of bad 心眼 could be where a person deliberately runs late when they need to give another person a ride, or fixing a deck of cards before a game so that when it is dealt, specific cards to to a specific person.


  • If a person has no 心眼, it means they are too naive and easy to take advantage of. In English, you can say they have no brains.



What I want to do is, rather than having to say "A person is sly" in the nominative case, I want to say "A person has no ___" in the accusative case (I believe they are in the right cases, please correct if this is wrong).










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    3















    Looking for an English equivalent of the Chinese noun 心眼 if there is any, or the best way to describe it.
    If someones has 心眼, then you can say they are sly.



    But, what do they have if they are sly?



    To try and describe the word's meaning, it is a noun that means something like figurative 'brains', 'sneaky' or 'trickery'. If someone is said to have bad 心眼, it means they can think up trickery and be evil to deliberately sabotage someone, or at least to work a situation to their advantage/avoid being disadvantaged. 心眼 on it's own doesn't necessarily have to be evil, it can also be to protect oneself. For example:




    • Say you are going to a party out of necessity but you don't really want to go. In Chinese, if you had 'a little 心眼'(多一点心眼), you can say you still have things to do, and leave early.


    • An example of bad 心眼 could be where a person deliberately runs late when they need to give another person a ride, or fixing a deck of cards before a game so that when it is dealt, specific cards to to a specific person.


    • If a person has no 心眼, it means they are too naive and easy to take advantage of. In English, you can say they have no brains.



    What I want to do is, rather than having to say "A person is sly" in the nominative case, I want to say "A person has no ___" in the accusative case (I believe they are in the right cases, please correct if this is wrong).










    share|improve this question







    New contributor




    Stephanie Chen-Xu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.























      3












      3








      3








      Looking for an English equivalent of the Chinese noun 心眼 if there is any, or the best way to describe it.
      If someones has 心眼, then you can say they are sly.



      But, what do they have if they are sly?



      To try and describe the word's meaning, it is a noun that means something like figurative 'brains', 'sneaky' or 'trickery'. If someone is said to have bad 心眼, it means they can think up trickery and be evil to deliberately sabotage someone, or at least to work a situation to their advantage/avoid being disadvantaged. 心眼 on it's own doesn't necessarily have to be evil, it can also be to protect oneself. For example:




      • Say you are going to a party out of necessity but you don't really want to go. In Chinese, if you had 'a little 心眼'(多一点心眼), you can say you still have things to do, and leave early.


      • An example of bad 心眼 could be where a person deliberately runs late when they need to give another person a ride, or fixing a deck of cards before a game so that when it is dealt, specific cards to to a specific person.


      • If a person has no 心眼, it means they are too naive and easy to take advantage of. In English, you can say they have no brains.



      What I want to do is, rather than having to say "A person is sly" in the nominative case, I want to say "A person has no ___" in the accusative case (I believe they are in the right cases, please correct if this is wrong).










      share|improve this question







      New contributor




      Stephanie Chen-Xu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.












      Looking for an English equivalent of the Chinese noun 心眼 if there is any, or the best way to describe it.
      If someones has 心眼, then you can say they are sly.



      But, what do they have if they are sly?



      To try and describe the word's meaning, it is a noun that means something like figurative 'brains', 'sneaky' or 'trickery'. If someone is said to have bad 心眼, it means they can think up trickery and be evil to deliberately sabotage someone, or at least to work a situation to their advantage/avoid being disadvantaged. 心眼 on it's own doesn't necessarily have to be evil, it can also be to protect oneself. For example:




      • Say you are going to a party out of necessity but you don't really want to go. In Chinese, if you had 'a little 心眼'(多一点心眼), you can say you still have things to do, and leave early.


      • An example of bad 心眼 could be where a person deliberately runs late when they need to give another person a ride, or fixing a deck of cards before a game so that when it is dealt, specific cards to to a specific person.


      • If a person has no 心眼, it means they are too naive and easy to take advantage of. In English, you can say they have no brains.



      What I want to do is, rather than having to say "A person is sly" in the nominative case, I want to say "A person has no ___" in the accusative case (I believe they are in the right cases, please correct if this is wrong).







      single-word-requests






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      Stephanie Chen-Xu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











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      asked 2 hours ago









      Stephanie Chen-XuStephanie Chen-Xu

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          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          3














          To me it sounds you're describing guile:




          clever but sometimes dishonest behaviour that you use to deceive someone:
          The president will need to use all her political guile to stay in power.

          He is a simple man, totally lacking in guile.

          -- Cambridge Dictionary







          Guile is the quality of being good at deceiving people in a clever way.
          His cunning and guile were not attributes I would ever underestimate.

          I love children's innocence and lack of guile.

          -- Collins English Dictionary







          share|improve this answer































            2














            The word you are looking for may be cunning. A person with cunning can be sly, clever, sneaky or scrappy. It's considered neither inherently positive or negative, much like the Chinese phrase, and it captures that idea of someone who finds an unexpected way to turn a situation to their advantage.



            However, it's usually not correct to say that a person has no cunning. In the case you describe, where someone is too easily tricked or taken advantage of, they are described as being gullible.






            share|improve this answer































              2














              That noun is most likely smarts. It can be used both in positive and negative sense.



              ODO:




              smart
              NOUN
              2 (smarts) North American informal

              Intelligence; acumen.



              ‘Nikki was intelligent while Jack had a different type of smarts.’



              ‘He has great vision and tremendous smarts in terms of knowing when to
              fair catch a ball and when to let it bounce.’







              share|improve this answer

































                1














                I was first going to go with adroitness or savoir-faire, but I think simple "cleverness" might be better.




                clever

                1.c. Crafty; cunning

                2.a. Exhibiting ingenuity or imagination; creative or artful.
                b. Witty; amusing: an evening of clever repartee.
                c. Characterized by
                cunning or shrewdness: clever manipulation of public opinion.
                American Heritage Dictionary



                1.b : mentally quick and resourceful
                a clever young lawyer
                2 : marked by wit or ingenuity
                Merriam-Webster Dictionary




                Finding an appropriate word like this is a bit tricky, because many have a negative tone, as if it's a quality usually used for deceit. Words like artfulness and craftiness both have these. However I think cleverness is pretty neutral.






                share|improve this answer























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                  4 Answers
                  4






                  active

                  oldest

                  votes








                  4 Answers
                  4






                  active

                  oldest

                  votes









                  active

                  oldest

                  votes






                  active

                  oldest

                  votes









                  3














                  To me it sounds you're describing guile:




                  clever but sometimes dishonest behaviour that you use to deceive someone:
                  The president will need to use all her political guile to stay in power.

                  He is a simple man, totally lacking in guile.

                  -- Cambridge Dictionary







                  Guile is the quality of being good at deceiving people in a clever way.
                  His cunning and guile were not attributes I would ever underestimate.

                  I love children's innocence and lack of guile.

                  -- Collins English Dictionary







                  share|improve this answer




























                    3














                    To me it sounds you're describing guile:




                    clever but sometimes dishonest behaviour that you use to deceive someone:
                    The president will need to use all her political guile to stay in power.

                    He is a simple man, totally lacking in guile.

                    -- Cambridge Dictionary







                    Guile is the quality of being good at deceiving people in a clever way.
                    His cunning and guile were not attributes I would ever underestimate.

                    I love children's innocence and lack of guile.

                    -- Collins English Dictionary







                    share|improve this answer


























                      3












                      3








                      3







                      To me it sounds you're describing guile:




                      clever but sometimes dishonest behaviour that you use to deceive someone:
                      The president will need to use all her political guile to stay in power.

                      He is a simple man, totally lacking in guile.

                      -- Cambridge Dictionary







                      Guile is the quality of being good at deceiving people in a clever way.
                      His cunning and guile were not attributes I would ever underestimate.

                      I love children's innocence and lack of guile.

                      -- Collins English Dictionary







                      share|improve this answer













                      To me it sounds you're describing guile:




                      clever but sometimes dishonest behaviour that you use to deceive someone:
                      The president will need to use all her political guile to stay in power.

                      He is a simple man, totally lacking in guile.

                      -- Cambridge Dictionary







                      Guile is the quality of being good at deceiving people in a clever way.
                      His cunning and guile were not attributes I would ever underestimate.

                      I love children's innocence and lack of guile.

                      -- Collins English Dictionary








                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered 1 hour ago









                      michael.hor257kmichael.hor257k

                      11.7k41840




                      11.7k41840

























                          2














                          The word you are looking for may be cunning. A person with cunning can be sly, clever, sneaky or scrappy. It's considered neither inherently positive or negative, much like the Chinese phrase, and it captures that idea of someone who finds an unexpected way to turn a situation to their advantage.



                          However, it's usually not correct to say that a person has no cunning. In the case you describe, where someone is too easily tricked or taken advantage of, they are described as being gullible.






                          share|improve this answer




























                            2














                            The word you are looking for may be cunning. A person with cunning can be sly, clever, sneaky or scrappy. It's considered neither inherently positive or negative, much like the Chinese phrase, and it captures that idea of someone who finds an unexpected way to turn a situation to their advantage.



                            However, it's usually not correct to say that a person has no cunning. In the case you describe, where someone is too easily tricked or taken advantage of, they are described as being gullible.






                            share|improve this answer


























                              2












                              2








                              2







                              The word you are looking for may be cunning. A person with cunning can be sly, clever, sneaky or scrappy. It's considered neither inherently positive or negative, much like the Chinese phrase, and it captures that idea of someone who finds an unexpected way to turn a situation to their advantage.



                              However, it's usually not correct to say that a person has no cunning. In the case you describe, where someone is too easily tricked or taken advantage of, they are described as being gullible.






                              share|improve this answer













                              The word you are looking for may be cunning. A person with cunning can be sly, clever, sneaky or scrappy. It's considered neither inherently positive or negative, much like the Chinese phrase, and it captures that idea of someone who finds an unexpected way to turn a situation to their advantage.



                              However, it's usually not correct to say that a person has no cunning. In the case you describe, where someone is too easily tricked or taken advantage of, they are described as being gullible.







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered 2 hours ago









                              MerusMerus

                              1954




                              1954























                                  2














                                  That noun is most likely smarts. It can be used both in positive and negative sense.



                                  ODO:




                                  smart
                                  NOUN
                                  2 (smarts) North American informal

                                  Intelligence; acumen.



                                  ‘Nikki was intelligent while Jack had a different type of smarts.’



                                  ‘He has great vision and tremendous smarts in terms of knowing when to
                                  fair catch a ball and when to let it bounce.’







                                  share|improve this answer






























                                    2














                                    That noun is most likely smarts. It can be used both in positive and negative sense.



                                    ODO:




                                    smart
                                    NOUN
                                    2 (smarts) North American informal

                                    Intelligence; acumen.



                                    ‘Nikki was intelligent while Jack had a different type of smarts.’



                                    ‘He has great vision and tremendous smarts in terms of knowing when to
                                    fair catch a ball and when to let it bounce.’







                                    share|improve this answer




























                                      2












                                      2








                                      2







                                      That noun is most likely smarts. It can be used both in positive and negative sense.



                                      ODO:




                                      smart
                                      NOUN
                                      2 (smarts) North American informal

                                      Intelligence; acumen.



                                      ‘Nikki was intelligent while Jack had a different type of smarts.’



                                      ‘He has great vision and tremendous smarts in terms of knowing when to
                                      fair catch a ball and when to let it bounce.’







                                      share|improve this answer















                                      That noun is most likely smarts. It can be used both in positive and negative sense.



                                      ODO:




                                      smart
                                      NOUN
                                      2 (smarts) North American informal

                                      Intelligence; acumen.



                                      ‘Nikki was intelligent while Jack had a different type of smarts.’



                                      ‘He has great vision and tremendous smarts in terms of knowing when to
                                      fair catch a ball and when to let it bounce.’








                                      share|improve this answer














                                      share|improve this answer



                                      share|improve this answer








                                      edited 1 hour ago

























                                      answered 2 hours ago









                                      alwayslearningalwayslearning

                                      26k63894




                                      26k63894























                                          1














                                          I was first going to go with adroitness or savoir-faire, but I think simple "cleverness" might be better.




                                          clever

                                          1.c. Crafty; cunning

                                          2.a. Exhibiting ingenuity or imagination; creative or artful.
                                          b. Witty; amusing: an evening of clever repartee.
                                          c. Characterized by
                                          cunning or shrewdness: clever manipulation of public opinion.
                                          American Heritage Dictionary



                                          1.b : mentally quick and resourceful
                                          a clever young lawyer
                                          2 : marked by wit or ingenuity
                                          Merriam-Webster Dictionary




                                          Finding an appropriate word like this is a bit tricky, because many have a negative tone, as if it's a quality usually used for deceit. Words like artfulness and craftiness both have these. However I think cleverness is pretty neutral.






                                          share|improve this answer




























                                            1














                                            I was first going to go with adroitness or savoir-faire, but I think simple "cleverness" might be better.




                                            clever

                                            1.c. Crafty; cunning

                                            2.a. Exhibiting ingenuity or imagination; creative or artful.
                                            b. Witty; amusing: an evening of clever repartee.
                                            c. Characterized by
                                            cunning or shrewdness: clever manipulation of public opinion.
                                            American Heritage Dictionary



                                            1.b : mentally quick and resourceful
                                            a clever young lawyer
                                            2 : marked by wit or ingenuity
                                            Merriam-Webster Dictionary




                                            Finding an appropriate word like this is a bit tricky, because many have a negative tone, as if it's a quality usually used for deceit. Words like artfulness and craftiness both have these. However I think cleverness is pretty neutral.






                                            share|improve this answer


























                                              1












                                              1








                                              1







                                              I was first going to go with adroitness or savoir-faire, but I think simple "cleverness" might be better.




                                              clever

                                              1.c. Crafty; cunning

                                              2.a. Exhibiting ingenuity or imagination; creative or artful.
                                              b. Witty; amusing: an evening of clever repartee.
                                              c. Characterized by
                                              cunning or shrewdness: clever manipulation of public opinion.
                                              American Heritage Dictionary



                                              1.b : mentally quick and resourceful
                                              a clever young lawyer
                                              2 : marked by wit or ingenuity
                                              Merriam-Webster Dictionary




                                              Finding an appropriate word like this is a bit tricky, because many have a negative tone, as if it's a quality usually used for deceit. Words like artfulness and craftiness both have these. However I think cleverness is pretty neutral.






                                              share|improve this answer













                                              I was first going to go with adroitness or savoir-faire, but I think simple "cleverness" might be better.




                                              clever

                                              1.c. Crafty; cunning

                                              2.a. Exhibiting ingenuity or imagination; creative or artful.
                                              b. Witty; amusing: an evening of clever repartee.
                                              c. Characterized by
                                              cunning or shrewdness: clever manipulation of public opinion.
                                              American Heritage Dictionary



                                              1.b : mentally quick and resourceful
                                              a clever young lawyer
                                              2 : marked by wit or ingenuity
                                              Merriam-Webster Dictionary




                                              Finding an appropriate word like this is a bit tricky, because many have a negative tone, as if it's a quality usually used for deceit. Words like artfulness and craftiness both have these. However I think cleverness is pretty neutral.







                                              share|improve this answer












                                              share|improve this answer



                                              share|improve this answer










                                              answered 1 hour ago









                                              ZebrafishZebrafish

                                              9,60331334




                                              9,60331334






















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