灵巧

• Pinyin: líng qiǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 灵 = spirit, nimble; 巧 = 工 (work) + 丂 (bent tool) — skillful craftsmanship

Meaning

Dexterous; nimble; ingeniously crafted. Describes fine physical skill or cleverly designed objects.

Used both for physical dexterity — skilled hands, nimble fingers — and for cleverly designed or crafted objects. Common in artisan, craft, and sports contexts.

Examples

1. 她的手指极为灵巧，短短几分钟便编好了一顶精致的花环。 Her fingers are incredibly nimble; in just a few minutes, she braided an exquisite flower wreath.
2. 这位木匠技艺灵巧，每一件家具都做工考究，令人叹服。 This carpenter is highly skilled; every piece of furniture is meticulously made and truly impressive.
3. 年轻的体操运动员动作灵巧，在高难度动作上展现出惊人的控制力。 The young gymnast moves with great agility, showing astonishing control in high-difficulty routines.

Usage Guide

Context: crafts, sports, everyday

Tone: appreciative

Do Say

• 她的双手十分灵巧，什么都能做。(Her hands are very dexterous — she can make anything.)
• 这个设计既灵巧又实用，深受用户喜爱。(This design is both ingenious and practical, and is well loved by users.)

Don't Say

• 把大型重型设备说成'灵巧' — 灵巧 implies delicate, fine-grained skill, not raw power (Don't describe heavy machinery as 灵巧 — use 精密 or 高效 instead)

Origin & History

灵 (nimble, spirit) + 巧 (skillful, clever) — nimble and skillful in craft or movement.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal