技巧

• Pinyin: jì qiǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 技 = 扌 (hand) + 支 (branch, phonetic) — hand skills; 巧 = 工 (work) + 丂 (phonetic) — clever workmanship

Meaning

Skill; technique; trick of the trade. The know-how or clever methods for doing something well.

Refers to practical skills, clever methods, or refined techniques in any field — from cooking and sports to communication and study methods. Implies dexterity and finesse rather than brute effort. Common collocations include 学习技巧 (study techniques), 沟通技巧 (communication skills), and 掌握技巧 (master a technique).

Examples

1. 学好书法需要掌握很多技巧。 Learning calligraphy well requires mastering many techniques.
2. 这位厨师的刀工技巧让大家都很佩服。 This chef's knife skills impressed everyone.
3. 老师给我们分享了几个记单词的技巧。 The teacher shared with us several tricks for memorizing vocabulary.

Usage Guide

Context: learning, sports, work, daily life

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 你有什么学外语的技巧吗？(Do you have any tips for learning a foreign language?)
• 打篮球需要很多技巧。(Playing basketball requires many skills.)

Don't Say

• 他用技巧打开了门 (If he simply turned a key, don't use 技巧 — it implies special skill or cleverness; use 方法 for a straightforward method)

Origin & History

技 (skill, craft) + 巧 (clever, skillful) — skillful cleverness in execution.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal