乖巧 guāiqiǎo clever (child)
clever (child); smart; lovable; cute
How to remember 乖巧: 乖 obedient + 巧 skillful = clever (child).
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How it is used
- Describes a well-behaved, endearing child (or pet) - 这孩子真乖巧 (zhè háizi zhēn guāiqiǎo) what a good, sweet child.
- Two nuances: obedient/well-behaved (乖) and clever at pleasing/reading the room (巧); it praises charm, not raw intelligence.
- Mostly for children, young women, or animals; calling an adult man 乖巧 sounds odd.