工夫（くふう）
JLPT N3 · noun
Pitch accent: heiban (flat) — starts low, then stays high with no drop
Meaning: ingenuity / creative idea
Example sentences
- 狭い部屋を広く使う工夫をする。 — I try to find ways to make a small room feel more spacious.
- いろいろ工夫して、味をよくする。 — I try various ideas to improve the flavor.
Idioms & proverbs containing “工夫”
- 創意工夫 (そういくふう) — ingenuity; inventiveness; creative originality
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “工夫” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)