1.
craftsmanship, handiwork, workmanship
Skilled work done by hand, especially detailed or delicate work on objects. Also refers to the finished product of such work.
見事な細工だ。
That's splendid craftsmanship.
金の細工が施された箱を買った。
I bought a box with gold filigree work on it.
この人形は細工が細かくて美しい。
This doll has fine, detailed workmanship and is beautiful.
2.
trick, scheme, manipulation
A clever or underhanded manipulation, tampering, or scheming done to achieve a desired outcome.
小細工はやめろ。
Stop playing tricks.
帳簿に細工をした疑いがある。
There is suspicion that the books were tampered with.
いくら細工をしても、いずれ真実は明らかになる。
No matter how much you scheme, the truth will come to light eventually.
USAGE:
Used both as a standalone noun and in compounds. In sense 2, often appears with する to mean "to tamper with" or "to manipulate." The compound 小細工 (petty tricks) is very common and has a strongly negative connotation. Note the rendaku: さいく → ざいく in compounds.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 細工が細かい: finely crafted
- 細工を施す: to apply craftsmanship
- 細工をする: to tamper with, to manipulate
- 小細工: petty tricks, cheap tricks
- 竹細工: bamboo craft
- 金細工: goldsmithing