Translation guide
A person who makes and repairs iron objects, especially horseshoes. In Japanese, the most common term is 鍛冶屋, but there are also historical and specialized terms.
A person who forges and repairs iron items, such as tools and horseshoes.
The standard, everyday word for a blacksmith. It can refer to the person or the shop.
The village blacksmith made horseshoes.
I had my kitchen knife sharpened at the blacksmith's.
Refers to the craft or the act of blacksmithing, but can also mean a blacksmith in compound words or formal contexts.
He is learning the art of blacksmithing.
Literally 'iron worker', this can refer to a blacksmith in industrial or modern contexts, but is less specific.
I work at an ironworks.
A craftsman who specializes in forging swords, especially Japanese katana.
Specifically a swordsmith who makes katana. This is the most precise term for a traditional Japanese sword maker.
That swordsmith produced a famous blade.
A formal term for a swordsmith, often used in historical or artistic contexts.
A blacksmith who makes armor.
A blacksmith specializing in armor. This is a historical term rarely used in modern conversation.
The armorer repaired the samurai's armor.
鍛冶屋 can mean both the blacksmith and the blacksmith's shop. Context usually makes it clear. If you need to specify the shop, you can say 鍛冶屋の店 (かじやのみせ), but it's often unnecessary.
鍛冶屋 is a general blacksmith who might make tools, horseshoes, or simple blades. 刀鍛冶 is a specialized swordsmith who crafts katana using traditional methods. Do not use 刀鍛冶 for a Western-style blacksmith.
この刀は有名な刀工によって作られた。
This sword was made by a famous swordsmith.