巧

qiǎo

丂 + 工

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

qiǎo (adjective) skillful; clever

qiǎo (adverb) opportunely; coincidentally; by chance

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 工 represents the meaning and 丂 represents the sound.

Semantic: 工 Phonetic: 丂

About

巧 is a phono-semantic compound: the left-side component 工 gives the meaning, originally depicting a tool and conveying work, labor, or craftsmanship, linking the character to manual skill and physical dexterity. The right-side component 丂 (kǎo) is the phonetic. In early usage, 巧 referred to a high level of physical dexterity, encompassing the ingenuity, precision, and technical skill of a master artisan or builder constructing complex objects. As the language evolved, the meaning broadened from physical craftsmanship to include mental agility, cleverness, and articulate, persuasive speech. Today, it often denotes coincidental timing, clever tricks, artistic ingenuity, and situations that are remarkably opportune or conveniently arranged.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个主意很巧妙。

Zhège zhǔyì hěn qiǎomiào.

This idea is very clever.

巧合的事情发生了。

Qiǎohé de shìqíng fāshēng le.

A coincidental thing happened.

她巧手编织毛衣。

Tā qiǎoshǒu biānzhī máoyī.

She skillfully knits a sweater.

巧妙的设计节省空间。

Qiǎomiào de shèjì jiéshěng kōngjiān.

The ingenious design saves space.

这次相遇纯属巧合。

Zhè cì xiāngyù chún shǔ qiǎohé.

This encounter is purely coincidental.

他巧妙地避免了冲突。

Tā qiǎomiào de bìmiǎn le chōngtū.

He cleverly avoided the conflict.

没有巧手很难做细活。

Méiyǒu qiǎoshǒu hěn nán zuò xì huó.

Without skillful hands, it's hard to do delicate work.

巧合往往出乎意料之外。

Qiǎohé wǎngwǎng chūhū yìliào zhī wài.

Coincidences often are beyond expectation.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丂

Component: 工

巧