小技(こわざ)

こわざ
noun
small trick; clever technique; minor skill
1. small trick; clever technique; handy tip
A minor but useful technique or trick, often referring to a clever shortcut or practical tip in daily life, technology, or work.
便利(べんり)な小技(こわざ)を紹介(しょうかい)する。
To introduce a handy trick.
このアプリには知(し)っておくと役(やく)に立(た)つ小技(こわざ)がたくさんある。
This app has lots of little tricks that are useful to know.
料理(りょうり)の小技(こわざ)を覚(おぼ)えると、毎日(まいにち)の食事(しょくじ)作(づく)りがずっと楽(らく)になる。
Once you learn a few cooking tricks, preparing daily meals becomes much easier.
2. minor technique (in martial arts or sports)
A small-scale technique in martial arts, sumo, or other sports, as opposed to a major or decisive technique.
小技(こわざ)で一本(いっぽん)を取(と)る。
To score a point with a minor technique.
大技(おおわざ)ではなく小技(こわざ)を積(つ)み重(かさ)ねて勝(か)った。
He won by piling up minor techniques rather than major ones.
相撲(すもう)では体(からだ)の小(ちい)さい力士(りきし)ほど小技(こわざ)を使(つか)いこなす傾向(けいこう)がある。
In sumo, smaller wrestlers tend to be adept at using minor techniques.

A compound of 小(こ) (small) and 技(わざ) (technique, skill). In modern usage, sense 1 (handy tips and tricks) is extremely common, especially in technology and lifestyle contexts — articles titled 「便利(べんり)な小技(こわざ)○選(せん)」 (X useful tricks) are ubiquitous online.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 大技(おおわざ): major technique — the opposite; a big, decisive move
  • コツ: knack, trick — more informal, refers to the key point of doing something well
  • 裏(うら)ワザ: hidden trick, secret technique — implies something not widely known

Related Words

Antonym: 大技(おおわざ) (major technique)
Compare: コツ (knack, trick)
general
Added 2026.4.4 3:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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