巧妙

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 巧妙(こうみょう) describes a method or mechanism that is skillfully devised.
• Basic usage: It can describe both a criminal's cunning method and an ingenious device.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Skill and moral judgment are separate
  • 巧妙な手口 can describe a method used for wrongdoing; 巧妙な仕組み can describe a well-designed mechanism.
• な before a noun
  • 巧妙 takes な when modifying a noun.