Refers to practical skill, ingenuity, or cleverness in handling things. Often used in contexts requiring resourcefulness or adroitness.
He used his cleverness to solve the difficult problem.
The craftsman finished the work with skill cultivated through years of experience.
Compound of 巧 (skillful) and 知 (knowledge, wisdom). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination suggests 'skillful knowledge' or 'practical cleverness'.