चालाक (chaalaak)

adjective One core sense: mentally quick and cunning, which in Hindi can slide between admiring 'clever' and suspicious 'sly' depending on tone and context.
Sense 1 : clever, cunning, sly
adjective
Synonyms: होशियार (hoshiyaar, leans positive, 'smart'), शातिर (shaatir, leans negative, 'crafty/scheming'), धोखेबाज़ (dhokhebaaz, deceitful, narrower scope)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Think of the fox in Hindi fables (चालाक लोमड़ी, chaalaak lomdii, 'the sly fox') -- that image captures the word's flavor exactly: quick-witted but not to be fully trusted. Parents scolding a child who talks their way out of trouble might say तुम बहुत चालाक हो (tum bahut chaalaak ho, 'you're very cunning'), half-annoyed and half-impressed.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often treat चालाक (chaalaak) as a straightforward compliment like 'intelligent,' but it usually carries a whiff of cunning or self-interest -- calling someone चालाक (chaalaak) to their face can sound like an accusation, not a compliment. 2) Confused with होशियार (hoshiyaar): होशियार (hoshiyaar) praises genuine smartness or alertness, while चालाक (chaalaak) suggests the person is smart in a scheming, self-serving way.
Sample Sentences:
चालाक लोमड़ी ने मुर्गे को धोखा दे दिया। The sly fox tricked the rooster.
(chaalaak lomdii ne murge ko dhokhaa de diyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
तुम बहुत चालाक हो, हर बार बहाना बना लेते हो। You're very cunning -- you come up with an excuse every single time.
(tum bahut chaalaak ho, har baar bahaanaa banaa lete ho।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह दुकानदार बहुत चालाक है, सामान का दाम बढ़ा-चढ़ाकर बताता है। That shopkeeper is very cunning -- he quotes inflated prices for his goods.
(vah dukaandaar bahut chaalaak hai, saamaan kaa daam badhaa-chadhaakar bataataa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इतना चालाक मत बनो, सीधी बात करो। Don't be so clever, just talk straight.
(itnaa chaalaak mat bano, siidhii baat karo।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर वह इतना चालाक न होता तो इतनी आसानी से बच न पाता। If he weren't so cunning, he wouldn't have gotten away so easily.
(agar vah itnaa chaalaak n hotaa to itnii aasaanii se bach n paataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
हो सकता है वह जितना दिखता है उससे कहीं ज़्यादा चालाक हो। It's possible he's far more cunning than he appears to be.
(ho saktaa hai vah jitnaa dikhtaa hai usse kahiin zyaadaa chaalaak ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
राजनीति में सबसे चालाक इंसान ही टिक पाता है। In politics, only the most cunning person manages to survive.
(raajniiti men sabse chaalaak insaan hii tik paataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मुझे पहले से पता था कि वह लड़का बहुत चालाक निकलेगा। I already knew that boy would turn out to be very clever.
(mujhe pahle se pataa thaa ki vah ladkaa bahut chaalaak niklegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
उसकी चालाक मुस्कान से ही पता चल गया कि कुछ गड़बड़ है। Just from his sly smile, it was clear something was up.
(uskii chaalaak muskaan se hii pataa chal gayaa ki kuchh gadbad hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस कहानी में चालाक लोमड़ी और भोले कौवे की बात कही गई है। This story tells the tale of the cunning fox and the naive crow.
(is kahaanii men chaalaak lomdii aur bhole kauve kii baat kahii gaii hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
वे इतने चालाक निकले कि किसी को शक ही नहीं हुआ। They turned out to be so cunning that no one even suspected them.
(ve itne chaalaak nikle ki kisii ko shak hii nahiin huaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant: चालाक (chaalaak)