Japanese word

工夫

Pronunciation

Romajikufū

Meaning

  • nounclever way

Example

父は仕事のやり方を工夫します。chichi wa shi goto no ya ri kata o ku fū shi ma su

My father finds a clever way to do his work.

Illustration for 工夫 (clever way)

More examples

この工夫なら、楽にできます。ko no ku fū na ra raku ni de ki ma su

With this clever way, we can do it easily.

収納に工夫を加えると、部屋を広く使えます。shū nō ni ku fū o kuwa e ru to heya o hiro ku tsuka e ma su

With a clever storage solution, you can make better use of the space in your room.

Core concept

Describes the practical creativity used to find a better way of doing something.

Common phrases

  • 工夫を凝らすku fū o ko ra su

    devise a clever solution

  • 工夫を加えるku fū o kuwa e ru

    add a clever touch

  • 工夫が必要ku fū ga hitsu yō

    require some ingenuity

Similar words

改善kaizen: A change made to make something better or easier to use.
改良kairyō: An improvement that makes a product, method, or system work better.
知恵chie: Knowledge or an idea used to solve a problem in a practical way.
発想hassō: An idea for arranging or doing something in a useful or effective way.

Definition in Japanese

目的に合うように、やり方を考えたり改めたりすること。moku teki ni a u yō ni ya ri kata o kanga e ta ri arata me ta ri su ru ko to

Word origin

The Japanese word 工夫 (kufū) derives from Chinese gōngfu, which referred to effort or practice, and its meaning in Japanese expanded to include finding a practical solution.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 工夫 (kufū) often refers to a small practical change that makes a task easier or more effective.

Other meanings

  • ingenuitynoun

Related words

  • 工夫するkufūsurudeviseverb

Word lists with this word