What does 工夫 mean in Japanese?

devising (a way), contriving, inventing, thinking up, figuring out, coming up with

工夫 (Kufuu) — devising (a way) · Japanese Dictionary

くふう

Kufuu

Other forms: 功夫

工夫 (Kufuu) is a Japanese noun meaning “devising (a way), contriving, inventing, thinking up”.

noun, suru verb, transitive verbdevising (a way); contriving; inventing; thinking up; figuring out; coming up with
noundevice; design; idea; plan; invention
noun, suru verb, transitive verbdedication to spiritual improvement (esp. through Zen meditation)

これは私が工夫した計画です。
This is a plan of my own devising.
うまい写真をとるにはちょっとした工夫とコツがあるんです。
To take good pictures there are some knacks to learn and a little trick.

Sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR).