# 巧 — skilful

巧 means “skilful”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 5 strokes. On'yomi: コウ (kou). Kun'yomi: たく(み) (takumi). You'll see it in words such as 巧み (takumi, “skillful; adroit”).

- Meaning: skilful
- On'yomi: コウ (kou)
- Kun'yomi: たく(み) (takumi)
- Strokes: 5
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Qualities 4

## How to remember 巧

Sounds like 工: both read コウ.

Parts: 工 tool; work · 丂 bent

## Words with 巧

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 巧み | たくみ (takumi) | skillful; adroit |

## Don't confuse it with

[左](https://moji.ninja/n5-kanji/left/) · [写](https://moji.ninja/n4-kanji/copy/) · [与](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/give/) · [号](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/serial-number/)

## More in the “Qualities 4” set

[淡](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/faint/) · [准](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/quasi/) · [虚](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/void/) · [尚](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/esteem/) · [穏](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/calm/) · [顕](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/conspicuous/) · [巧](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/skilful/) · [粛](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/hushed/) · [愚](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/foolish/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/skilful/. Last updated 2026-11-01.