巧计 (qiǎo jì) — clever scheme, clever stratagem

Definition

A 'clever scheme/stratagem' — a noun for a clever trick or ploy used to achieve a goal, often in conflict or competition. Carries a slightly cunning connotation, more crafty than a plain 计策.

noun
clever schemeclever stratagem

Examples

  • 巧计。
    Tā yòng le yí gè qiǎo jì piàn guò le suǒ yǒu rén.
    He used a clever trick to fool everyone.
  • 巧计。
    Zhàn zhēng zhōng cháng cháng xū yào xiǎng chū qiǎo jì lái qǔ shèng.
    In war, one often needs to come up with clever strategies to win.
  • 巧计。
    Zhè ge qiǎo jì bāng wǒ men jié shěng le yí dà bǐ qián.
    This clever scheme saved us a lot of money.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

巧qiǎoclever
计jìplan

巧 names cleverness and 计 names a plan, giving a clever scheme.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
工工gōng
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo巧qiǎo
Same sound today

巧 is made of 工 and 丂; 工 points to its meaning, and 丂 points to its sound.

Open 巧 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 計; 计 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 計 pairs 言 (say) with 十 (all). The simplified 计 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical shape.

Open 计 →

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