What is the meaning of こう見えて in this sentence?


> こう見えてなかなかの策士

I get the なかなかの策士 part, but what does the first part of the sentence mean?




> こう見えて（も）、～～。

is used to say "Despite one's appearance", "Contrary to how one looks", "Even
though one may look otherwise".

> こう見えてなかなかの策士。  
>  Contrary to how he looks, / He may not look like one, but he is quite a
> schemer.

こう見えて（も） literally means "Even though (one) looks/appears this way". こう refers
to how one looks/appears, and the phrase is used to say that it (= how one
looks / one's appearance) doesn't match what one actually is.




"It may look like that, but~"  
"I know it looks like that, but~"  
"It seems that way, but~"

「こう見えて」は「見た目は～しそうに見えない」という意味です。

例えば

> 彼女はこう見えて、女性です。
>
> 彼はこう見えて、弁護士です。
>
> 彼はこう見えて、ヘビースモーカーです。
>
> 私、こう見えても大食いなんです。  
>  "I know it looks that way, but I'm actually a big eater."

I hope this helps you

