Hello, I’m Kodak.
You may hear ずるい (zurui) in two very different situations.
そんなのずるい！
That’s unfair!
Your friend is going to Hawaii:
ハワイに行くの？ずるい！
You’re going to Hawaii? No fair! You’re so lucky!
ずるい (zurui) means unfair, sneaky, dishonest, cunning, or selfishly clever.
As a playful reaction, it can mean:
“No fair!”
“Lucky you!”
“That’s not fair—I want that too!”
What Does ずるい (Zurui) Mean?
Kanji: 狡い
Hiragana: ずるい
Romaji: zurui
Part of speech: い-adjective
Main meanings:
1. unfair
2. sneaky or dishonest
3. cunning in a selfish way
4. avoiding responsibility while benefiting oneself
5. playful “No fair—you’re so lucky!”
答えを見たの？ずるいよ！
Kotae o mita no? Zurui yo!
You looked at the answers? That’s cheating!
一人だけケーキを食べたの？ずるい！
Hitori dake kēki o tabeta no? Zurui!
You ate cake all by yourself? No fair!
The Core Image of ずるい
↓
That person gains an advantage
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Other people feel the situation is unbalanced
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ずるい
The “cost” may be effort, risk, waiting, responsibility, honesty, or following the same rules as everyone else.
他人の答えを写すのはずるい。
Copying someone else’s answers is dishonest.
Avoiding responsibility:
失敗を全部ほかの人のせいにするのはずるい。
It’s unfair to blame the entire failure on someone else.
Taking only the benefit:
手伝わなかったのに、賞金だけもらうのはずるい。
It’s unfair to take the prize money when you didn’t help.
Why Can ずるい Mean “No Fair—you’re Lucky”?
Modern conversational Japanese sometimes uses ずるい without seriously accusing anyone of wrongdoing.
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“I do not get to experience it.”
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“That feels unfair to me—even though you did nothing wrong.”
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ずるい！
“No fair! Lucky you!”
A: 明日から一週間休みなんだ。
I have a week off starting tomorrow.B: ずるい！私も休みたい！
No fair! I want time off too!
A: 推しと写真を撮ったよ。
I took a photo with my favorite celebrity.B: えー、ずるい！羨ましい！
What? No fair! I’m so jealous!
A cheerful ずるい！羨ましい！ is very different from an angry そんなやり方はずるい.
How to Pronounce ずるい
Romaji: zurui
Mora: ず・る・い (3 morae)
Pronounce it in three beats: zu – ru – i. The Japanese r is a light tongue tap, not a strong English r.
How to Write Zurui in Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana
Hiragana: ずるい
Katakana: ズルイ
Romaji: zurui
ずるい is very often written in hiragana. The kanji spelling 狡い is correct, but hiragana is easier and more natural in many everyday contexts.
Katakana—ズルイ—may be used in manga, advertisements, social media, or captions for emphasis.
The Kanji 狡
sly; unfair; cunning
狡猾 (kōkatsu)
cunning; crafty; wily
狡賢い (zurugashikoi)
cunning in a dishonest or selfish way
Origin and Etymology of ずるい
The exact origin of ずるい is not completely certain.
One commonly proposed explanation connects it with ずるずる, a mimetic word associated with looseness, dragging, slipping, or a lack of firmness.
loose, dragging, slipping, or lacking firmness
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older ideas such as being undisciplined or avoiding what one should do
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gaining an advantage while avoiding responsibility
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ずるい
This is a plausible explanation rather than a firmly proven derivation. The related noun ずる means cheating, laziness, or acting unfairly.
ずるをする — to cheat
ずる休みをする — to skip work or school without a legitimate reason
ずる賢い — cunning in a selfish way
How to Use ずるい
1. Person + は + ずるい
彼はずるい。
Kare wa zurui.
He is sneaky / unfair.
2. Noun + は + ずるい
そのルールはずるい。
Sono rūru wa zurui.
That rule is unfair.
その質問はずるいよ。
Sono shitsumon wa zurui yo.
That question isn’t fair.
3. Verb + なんてずるい
後からルールを変えるなんてずるい。
Ato kara rūru o kaeru nante zurui.
It’s unfair to change the rules afterward.
自分だけ秘密にするなんてずるいよ。
Jibun dake himitsu ni suru nante zurui yo.
It’s not fair that you’re keeping it secret only for yourself.
4. ずるく + Verb
彼はずるく立ち回った。
Kare wa zuruku tachimawatta.
He maneuvered in a sneaky way.
ずるく勝っても意味がない。
Zuruku katte mo imi ga nai.
There is no point in winning dishonestly.
5. ずるい！ as a Complete Reaction
A: 来月、パリに行くよ。
I’m going to Paris next month.B: ずるい！私も行きたい！
No fair! I want to go too!
6. ずるいよ / ずるいな / ずるくない？
That’s not fair.
ずるいな。
That’s unfair / Lucky you.
ずるくない？
Isn’t that unfair?
ずるい Is an I-Adjective
Negative: ずるくない
Past: ずるかった
Past negative: ずるくなかった
Te-form: ずるくて
Adverb: ずるく
Noun: ずるさ
昨日の判定はずるかった。
Kinō no hantei wa zurukatta.
Yesterday’s ruling was unfair.
彼のずるさには驚いた。
Kare no zurusa ni wa odoroita.
I was surprised by how devious he was.
How Strong or Rude Is ずるい?
ずるい is not a swear word. Its strength ranges from playful teasing to serious moral criticism.
一人だけアイスを食べたの？ずるい！
You ate ice cream by yourself? No fair!
Mild criticism:
自分だけ先に帰るのはずるいよ。
It’s unfair for only you to go home early.
Serious criticism:
弱い立場の人をだますなんてずるい。
It is dishonestly unfair to deceive vulnerable people.
Instead, describe the concrete problem:
公平ではないように感じます。
It feels unfair to me.
ずるい vs 羨ましい: “No Fair” and “I’m Jealous”
“You have something good, and I wish I had it too.”
ずるい
“That feels unfair because you get something good and I do not.”
It may be playful envy or real criticism.
You’re going to Hokkaido? I’m jealous!
⇒ Focus: I want that experience too.
北海道に行くの？ずるい！
You’re going to Hokkaido? No fair!
⇒ Playfully treats the good fortune as unfair.
Learn more: What Does 羨ましい (Urayamashii) Mean?
ずるい vs いいな
That’s nice / Lucky you / I wish I could do that.
Light and rarely accusatory.
ずるい
No fair / That is unfair.
More emotional and teasing.
ずるい vs 卑怯: Unfair or Cowardly?
unfair, sneaky, or taking an improper advantage
Can be light or playful.
卑怯 (hikyō)
cowardly, dishonorable, or underhanded
Usually stronger and more serious.
It’s unfair for only you to look at the answer.
弱い人を後ろから攻撃するなんて卑怯だ。
It is cowardly to attack a weak person from behind.
ずるい vs せこい: Sneaky or Petty?
unfair or dishonest in order to gain an advantage
せこい (sekoi)
petty, cheap, stingy, or small-minded
It’s dishonest to claim someone else’s idea as your own.
一円単位で割り勘にするなんてせこい。
Splitting the bill down to the last yen is petty.
ずるい vs ずる賢い
unfair, sneaky, or selfishly clever
ずる賢い (zurugashikoi)
clever enough to manipulate situations dishonestly
Emphasizes intelligence used for selfish purposes.
彼はずる賢くて、いつも責任を逃れる。
Kare wa zurugashikokute, itsumo sekinin o nogareru.
He is cunning and always avoids responsibility.
Common Expressions with ずるい
to cheat; act dishonestly
ずる休みをする
to skip work or school without a legitimate reason
ずる賢い
cunning; slyly intelligent
ずるく立ち回る
to maneuver selfishly or dishonestly
ずるいやり方
an unfair / sneaky method
ずるい人
an unfair, sneaky, or self-serving person
ずるさ
unfairness; slyness
今日は病気のふりをして、学校をずる休みした。
Kyō wa byōki no furi o shite, gakkō o zuruyasumi shita.
I pretended to be sick and skipped school today.
How ずるい Is Used in Anime and Manga
That’s not fair!
一人だけ逃げるなんてずるいぞ！
It’s unfair for you to run away by yourself!
その能力、ずるすぎるだろ！
That ability is way too unfair!
⇒ It may mean “overpowered” or “broken.”
二人だけで遊びに行ったの？ずるい！
You two went out without me? No fair!
そんな顔するの、ずるいよ。
It’s not fair for you to make that face.
⇒ Your expression makes it hard for me to refuse or stay angry.
A natural translation is “You can’t smile at me like that” or “That smile isn’t fair.”
ずるすぎる in Games and Anime
時間を止められるなんて、ずるすぎる。
Jikan o tomerareru nante, zurusugiru.
Being able to stop time is way too unfair.
In gaming English, possible translations include overpowered, broken, cheap, or unfair.
Natural English Translations of ずるい
“That’s unfair.” / “That’s cheating.”
Dishonest conduct:
“That’s sneaky.” / “That was underhanded.”
Self-serving cleverness:
“He’s cunning.” / “She knows how to work the system.”
Playful envy:
“No fair!” / “Lucky you!” / “I’m jealous!”
Emotional dialogue:
“You can’t do that to me.” / “That isn’t fair.”
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Assuming ずるい Always Means Serious Cheating
試験で答えを見るのはずるい。
Looking at the answers during an exam is cheating.
Playful:
来週ディズニーに行くの？ずるい！
You’re going to Disney next week? No fair!
Mistake 2: Using It with Strangers to Mean “Lucky You”
Without a friendly tone, the listener may think you are criticizing them. 羨ましいです or いいですね is safer.
Mistake 3: Calling the Whole Person ずるい
He is a sneaky person.
彼のやり方はずるい。
His method is unfair.
Mistake 4: Treating ずるい and 卑怯 as Equally Strong
卑怯 is usually more serious and morally condemning. A playful ずるい！ cannot normally be replaced with 卑怯！.
Mistake 5: Confusing ずるい with ずるずる
unfair; sneaky
ずるずる
dragging, slipping, slurping, or allowing a situation to continue without resolution
Natural Example Sentences with ずるい
自分だけ答えを知っているなんてずるい。
Jibun dake kotae o shitte iru nante zurui.
It’s unfair that only you know the answer.
彼はいつも面倒な仕事をほかの人に任せる。ずるい人だ。
Kare wa itsumo mendō na shigoto o hoka no hito ni makaseru. Zurui hito da.
He always leaves difficult work to other people. He’s self-serving.
途中でルールを変えるのはずるくない？
Tochū de rūru o kaeru no wa zurukunai?
Isn’t it unfair to change the rules halfway through?
泣けば許してもらえると思うのはずるいよ。
Nakeba yurushite moraeru to omou no wa zurui yo.
It’s manipulative to think you’ll be forgiven just because you cry.
そんな優しいことを言うのはずるい。
Sonna yasashii koto o iu no wa zurui.
It’s not fair for you to say something that kind.
一か月も休みがあるの？ずるい！
Ikkagetsu mo yasumi ga aru no? Zurui!
You have a whole month off? No fair!
彼はずるく立ち回って、自分だけ責任を逃れた。
Kare wa zuruku tachimawatte, jibun dake sekinin o nogareta.
He maneuvered selfishly and escaped responsibility.
ずるをして勝ってもうれしくない。
Zuru o shite katte mo ureshikunai.
I wouldn’t be happy winning by cheating.
その笑顔はずるいよ。怒れなくなる。
Sono egao wa zurui yo. Okorenaku naru.
That smile isn’t fair. It makes it impossible for me to stay angry.
そのキャラクターの能力はずるすぎる。
Sono kyarakutā no nōryoku wa zurusugiru.
That character’s ability is ridiculously overpowered.
FAQ About ずるい
What does zurui mean in English?
ずるい can mean unfair, sneaky, dishonest, cunning, or selfishly clever. Playfully, it can mean “No fair!” or “Lucky you!”
Does zurui mean unfair?
Yes. “Unfair” is the best basic translation, especially when someone breaks a rule, avoids responsibility, or gains an improper advantage.
Why do Japanese people say zurui when someone is lucky?
The speaker playfully treats the other person’s good fortune as an unfair advantage. It means something like “No fair—I want that too!”
How do you write zurui in Japanese?
It is usually written as ずるい. The kanji spelling is 狡い, and ズルイ may be used for emphasis.
Is zurui an adjective?
Yes. It is an い-adjective. Its negative form is ずるくない, past form is ずるかった, and adverbial form is ずるく.
Is zurui rude?
It is not a swear word, but it can be a direct accusation. Among friends it may be playful; with strangers or superiors it may sound confrontational.
What is the difference between zurui and urayamashii?
羨ましい directly means “I envy what you have.” ずるい frames the advantage as unfair, seriously or playfully.
What is the difference between zurui and hikyō?
ずるい ranges from playful unfairness to dishonesty. 卑怯 is stronger and describes cowardly or dishonorable conduct.
What is the difference between zurui and sekoi?
ずるい focuses on an unfair advantage. せこい emphasizes petty, stingy, cheap, or small-minded behavior.
What does zurusugiru mean?
ずるすぎる means “too unfair.” In games or anime, it may mean overpowered or broken.
Related Expressions
A guide to 羨ましい, 悔しい, ずるい, やきもち, and related emotions.
What Does 羨ましい (Urayamashii) Mean?
The feeling that another person has something good and you wish you had it too.
What Does 悔しい (Kuyashii) Mean?
Painful frustration after losing, failing, or being unable to achieve the result you wanted.
What Does やきもち (Yakimochi) Mean?
Jealousy in relationships and the connection with 焼き餅.
Summary: The Meaning and Usage of ずるい
ずるい means unfair, sneaky, dishonest, cunning, or selfishly clever.
● Core image
Someone avoids the normal cost, effort, rule, or responsibility and gains an advantage.
● Playful meaning
With friends, ずるい！ can mean “No fair—you’re so lucky!” even when nobody did anything wrong.
● Writing
Hiragana: ずるい
Kanji: 狡い
Katakana: ズルイ
Romaji: zurui
● Grammar
Past: ずるかった
Negative: ずるくない
Adverb: ずるく
Noun: ずるさ
● Important distinctions
羨ましい = I wish I had that too
いいな = That’s nice / Lucky you
卑怯 = cowardly or dishonorable
せこい = petty, cheap, or small-minded
ずる賢い = cunningly intelligent
Then ask whether the speaker is seriously criticizing dishonesty—or playfully saying:
“No fair! I want that too!”
References
- Kotobank: 狡い — definitions of ずるい and the modern non-critical use expressing envy or admiration.
- Kotobank Progressive Japanese–English Dictionary: 狡い — English equivalents and examples.
- Kotobank: 狡 — meanings of the kanji and noun ずる.
- Gogen Yurai Jiten: ずるい — one proposed connection between ずるい and ずるずる.
- Kotobank: せこい — meanings including petty, stingy, and sly.