Translation guide
A cabinetmaker is a skilled woodworker who builds and repairs cabinets, furniture, and fine woodwork. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 家具職人, but other terms exist depending on context and tradition.
cabinetmaker (general)
He is a skilled cabinetmaker.
A traditional Japanese cabinetmaker who specializes in joinery without nails, making fine cabinets, chests, and boxes. Often associated with Edo-period craftsmanship.
The chest of drawers made by the cabinetmaker is very intricate.
A maker of sliding doors, screens, and interior woodwork (建具). While not exactly a cabinetmaker, they do related fine woodwork for Japanese-style rooms.
I asked the cabinetmaker to repair the sliding screen.
A craftsperson who works with wood to create furniture or decorative items, not limited to cabinets.
A woodworking craftsperson. Broader than cabinetmaker, but often used when the specific product isn't emphasized.
The cabinetmaker made a custom shelf for me.
A furniture artist or designer-maker, often creating unique, artistic pieces. Implies a more creative or independent approach.
家具職人 is the modern, general term for any furniture maker. 指物師 refers specifically to a traditional Japanese craftsperson who assembles wooden items using precise joinery without nails, often making cabinets, boxes, and chests. Use 指物師 when emphasizing traditional techniques or historical context.
The cabinetmaker's works are exhibited in the museum.