鬼点子 (guǐ diǎn zǐ) — a deceitful or clever trick; an underhanded idea

Definition

A colloquial noun for a 'cunning trick' or 'sneaky idea' — the focus is on being devious or underhanded, not genuinely clever (for which you'd use 聪明 or 高明). Usually negative or teasing in tone.

noun
a deceitful or clever trickan underhanded idea

Examples

  • 鬼点子。
    Nǐ bié zǒng xiǎng nà xiē guǐ diǎn zǐ.
    Don't always think about those underhanded tricks.
  • 鬼点子，。
    Tā yòu chū le yí gè guǐ diǎn zǐ, xiǎo xīn bié shàng dàng.
    He's come up with another wicked idea; be careful not to fall for it.
  • 鬼点子，。
    Zhè ge rén de guǐ diǎn zǐ tè bié duō, dà jiā dōu bù xǐ huan tā.
    This person has so many dirty tricks that nobody likes him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

鬼guǐghost
点子idea
点diǎnpoint子zǐsuffix
后缀Suffix

The 鬼 suggests wickedness or cunning, and 点子 refers to a trick or plan, together giving a deceitful idea.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

鬼 originally drew a kneeling figure with an ugly face, perhaps a mask; the small lower right dot is a later added tail.

Open 鬼 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

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