Refers to a quicker or easier way to achieve something, often with a nuance of bypassing normal steps. Can be used both literally (a shorter route) and figuratively (a time-saving method).
There is no shortcut to success.
He is always looking for a shortcut.
From Chinese 捷徑 (jiéjìng), composed of 捷 'quick, agile' and 徑 'path'. The Japanese reading しょうけい is the on'yomi. The word entered Japanese as a Sino-Japanese compound and retains a literary tone.