巧こう妙みょう

こ

う

みょ

う

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Describes a plan, method, trick, or design that is cleverly thought out and skillfully executed, often with a nuance of being artful or cunning.

巧こう妙みょうな手て口ぐちa cunning method or trick
犯はん人にんは巧こう妙みょうな手て口ぐちで銀ぎん行こうからお金かねを盗ぬすんだ。
The criminal used a cunning method to steal money from the bank.
巧こう妙みょうな罠わなan elaborate, cleverly set trap
彼かれは巧こう妙みょうな罠わなを仕し掛かけて敵てきをおびき出だした。
He set an elaborate trap to lure out the enemy.
巧こう妙みょうに〈動どう詞し〉to do (something) skillfully/cleverly
その広こう告こくは消しょう費ひ者しゃの心しん理りを巧こう妙みょうに利り用ようしている。
That advertisement cleverly exploits consumer psychology.
巧こう妙みょうな仕し掛かけan ingenious mechanism or device
この金きん庫こには巧こう妙みょうな仕し掛かけが施ほどこされている。
This safe has an ingenious mechanism built into it.

巧たくみN1
巧み emphasizes general dexterity or artistry in doing something, while 巧妙 stresses the cleverness of a plan, trick, or design.
器き用ようN3
器用 emphasizes manual dexterity or being handy with things, while 巧妙 focuses on mental cleverness and the artfulness of a scheme or design.
狡こう猾かつ
狡猾 has a strong negative connotation of cunning and slyness, whereas 巧妙 can be positive or neutral, simply indicating cleverness.
絶ぜつ妙みょう
巧妙 describes a clever or skillful method or construction (sometimes with a hint of craftiness), while 絶妙 is unambiguously positive and stresses exquisite aptness.
精せい巧こうN1
巧妙 highlights clever, ingenious technique (often in plans or tricks), while 精巧 focuses on fine, delicate craftsmanship in objects.

稚ち拙せつ
稚拙 describes something clumsy or unskillfully done, the opposite of the artful cleverness expressed by 巧妙.

Composed of 巧 (skillful, clever) and 妙 (exquisite, strange). The combination has been used since classical Chinese to mean ingenious or artful.