巧妙

• Pinyin: qiǎo miào
• Hanzi breakdown: 巧 = 工 (work) + 丂 (phonetic) — skilled work; 妙 = 女 (woman) + 少 (few) — wonderful, subtle

Meaning

Clever; ingenious; skillful. Describes something done with exceptional skill or cleverness.

Used to praise creative solutions, elegant designs, or skillful execution. Implies both cleverness and appropriateness — the solution is not just smart but fits the situation perfectly. Common in discussing problem-solving, art, writing, and design.

Examples

1. 她用巧妙的方法化解了这场尴尬的局面。 She cleverly resolved the awkward situation.
2. 这个产品的设计非常巧妙，把复杂的功能做得很简单。 The design of this product is very ingenious, making complex functions simple.
3. 他巧妙地回避了记者的尖锐问题。 He cleverly dodged the reporter's pointed questions.

Usage Guide

Context: design, solutions, praise

Tone: appreciative

Do Say

• 这个办法真巧妙！(This method is really clever!)
• 他的回答非常巧妙。(His answer was very ingenious.)

Don't Say

• 不要用'巧妙'形容运气或偶然 (Don't use 巧妙 for luck or coincidence — it implies intentional skill)

Origin & History

Compound of 巧 (skillful, clever) and 妙 (wonderful, subtle). Together they emphasize skillful subtlety and ingenuity.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal