意味一覧 (2件)
器用な
解説 Definition
手や道具、方法をうまく使えて、細かい作業や工夫が上手なことを表します。人の手先だけでなく、仕組みや解決法がよく考えられていて巧みな場合にも使われます。
Clever can describe someone who uses their hands, tools, or methods skillfully, especially in small or detailed work. It is also used for designs, ideas, or solutions that are well thought out and work in an effective way. In this sense, clever often means not only skillful, but also showing practical ingenuity.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
clever は「頭がよい」と覚えられがちですが、hand や skill と一緒に出ると「手先ややり方がうまい」という感覚になります。clever with one's hands, a clever design, a clever trick のように、細かい作業や工夫された仕組みに使われます。smart は知的能力寄り、dexterous は手先の器用さを直接表す語で、clever はそこに「うまく考えた」感じも加わります。
Many learners first remember clever as "intelligent," but with words like hand or skill, it often means "skillful" or "good at handling things." Think of phrases such as clever with one's hands, a clever design, or a clever trick. Smart is more about general intelligence, while dexterous directly focuses on hand skill; clever often adds the idea of good practical thinking.
例文
She is very clever with her hands and can fix small machines easily.
彼女は手先がとても器用で、小さな機械を簡単に直せる。
The box has a clever design that makes it easy to open and close.
その箱は開け閉めしやすいように、うまく工夫された器用な設計になっている。
It was a clever way to save space in such a small kitchen.
そんなに狭い台所で場所を節約するには、実にうまいやり方だった。
賢い
(意味 2)解説 Definition
知識があり、物事をよく理解している、または頭が良いことを表します。知恵と判断力に優れた様子を指します。
Clever describes someone or something that shows quick thinking, intelligence, or skill. It can be used for people, ideas, solutions, or remarks. Depending on context, it may sound positive, or it may suggest being smart in a slightly tricky way.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
このエントリの clever は、人や考えが「頭の回転が速く、うまく考える」という意味です。問題をすぐ解く学生、無駄のない案、気の利いた解決策などに使います。同じ clever には「器用な」という手先や方法の巧みさを表す基本義もありますが、ここでは知的な機転に注目します。wise は経験に基づく判断、intelligent は知能の高さを強調します。
Remember `clever` as smart in a quick, skillful way. It often appears in phrases like `a clever idea` or `a clever solution`, where someone finds a neat answer fast. It is different from `wise`, which sounds more about experience, and it can sometimes have a slightly tricky feeling.
例文
She is a clever student who solves problems quickly.
彼女は問題をすぐに解く頭の良い学生だ。
The clever solution to the problem impressed everyone.
その問題への賢い解決策は皆を感動させた。
He came up with a clever idea to save money.
彼はお金を節約するための賢いアイデアを思いついた。
clever の語源・成り立ち Etymology
中英語 cliver は「器用な、すばやい」を表した語。古い語では「つかむ」動作との関連が考えられ、手でうまく扱う感覚から、後に知的な巧みさへ広がった。
Clever comes from Middle English cliver, which meant "skillful" or "quick." It may have been connected with an old idea of grasping or handling something well by hand. From that sense, the word later developed a wider meaning of mental skill and ingenuity.
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