工夫・功夫|くふうkufuu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
工夫工夫 is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners when writing this word.
功夫功夫 is a rarely used written variant of 工夫; learners should not choose it as their default spelling.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbdevising (a way); contriving; inventing; thinking up; figuring out; coming up with; working out
- noundevice; design; idea; plan; invention
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbdedication to spiritual improvement (esp. through Zen meditation)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 工夫する（くふうする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 工夫します（くふうします） |
| Negative (nai) | 工夫しない（くふうしない） |
| polite (masen) | 工夫しません（くふうしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 工夫せず・工夫せぬ（くふうせず・くふうせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 工夫した（くふうした） |
| polite (mashita) | 工夫しました（くふうしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 工夫しなかった（くふうしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 工夫しませんでした（くふうしませんでした） |
| Te form | 工夫して（くふうして） |
| Potential | 工夫できる（くふうできる） |
| Passive | 工夫される（くふうされる） |
| Causative | 工夫させる（くふうさせる） |
| Causative passive | 工夫させられる（くふうさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 工夫すれば（くふうすれば） |
| tara | 工夫したら（くふうしたら） |
| Volitional | 工夫しよう（くふうしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 工夫しましょう（くふうしましょう） |
| Imperative | 工夫しろ（くふうしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym考案こうあんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Refers to designing or coming up with a new method, device, or rule; 「工夫」 centers on racking your brain for ways to do something.
- Synonym発明はつめいNeutralNeutral. Means inventing something entirely new, as in 「電話の発明」; 「工夫」 does not require the idea to be unprecedented.
- Synonym着想ちゃくそうWrittenWritten/formal prose. The idea that comes to mind, the starting point of a conception; 「工夫」 stresses concrete brainwork to improve something.
- Synonym構想こうそうWrittenWritten/formal prose. A large-scale conception or overall plan, as in 「将来構想」; 「工夫」 is about finding ways and putting in effort.
- Antonym無策むさくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Opposite of 「工夫」 in whether a way exists: it means being at a loss, with no countermeasures at all.
Use 「工夫」 for racking your brain to find or improve a way, as in 「工夫を凝らす」. Pick 「考案」 for designing a new method, device, or rule, 「発明」 for unprecedented inventions, and 「構想」 for grand-scale planning; 「無策」 is the antonym, no way out.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
