圆滑

圓滑

yuánhuá

adjective #17,205

Meanings

Literally 'round and slippery' - someone who is so smooth they can never be pinned down.

他这个人太圆滑了，说话从不得罪人。

Tā zhège rén tài yuánhuá le, shuōhuà cóngbù dézuì rén.

He's too slick - he never offends anyone when he speaks.

在官场上，圆滑的人往往走得更远。

Zài guānchǎng shàng, yuánhuá de rén wǎngwǎng zǒu de gèng yuǎn.

In the political arena, slick people often get further.

usage

圆滑 is almost always negative, implying someone is sly and insincere rather than genuinely diplomatic. For positive smoothness/tact, use 圆融 or 老练.

圆 yuán

滑 huá