細工
細工する · noun or participle which takes 'suru'
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 細工する | 細工しない |
| Polite | 細工します | 細工しません |
| Past polite | 細工しました | 細工しませんでした |
| Past | 細工した | 細工しなかった |
| Te-form | 細工して | 細工しないで |
| Desire | 細工したい | 細工したくない |
| Potential | 細工できる | 細工できない |
| Passive | 細工される | 細工されない |
| Causative | 細工させる | 細工させない |
| Causative passive | 細工させられる | 細工させられない |
| Volitional | 細工しよう | |
| Polite volitional | 細工しましょう | |
| Imperative | 細工しろ | 細工するな |
| Conditional | 細工すれば | 細工しなければ |
| Tara conditional | 細工したら | 細工しなかったら |
Meanings
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
craftsmanship; workmanship; handiwork
Refers to skilled manual work, often involving intricate detail. Can be used for the act of crafting or the resulting product.
This furniture has very fine craftsmanship.
He crafted the wood into a beautiful box.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
Carries a negative connotation of underhanded manipulation, such as rigging, doctoring, or setting up a scheme. Often used in compounds like 細工をする (to tamper with) or 裏細工 (behind-the-scenes maneuvering).
He tampered with the books and embezzled money.
There are rumors of rigging in the election.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉に細工を施すto apply fine craftsmanship/detail work to something
The craftsman applied intricate detail work to the ring.
- 手の込んだ細工elaborate, painstaking craftsmanship
This box has elaborate craftsmanship worked into it.
- 〈事〉に細工をするto tamper with or rig something
It seems someone tampered with the vote results.
- 裏で細工するto secretly maneuver or manipulate things behind the scenes
He secretly maneuvered things behind the scenes to make the contract favorable.
Expressions
- 細工は流々仕上げを御覧じろdon't judge a work in progress; the end crowns the work