Translation guide
A person skilled in a particular craft or trade, often involving manual skill and artistry.
Referring to a person who makes things skillfully by hand, especially in traditional arts or trades.
The most common and general term for a skilled manual worker or artisan. Covers a wide range of traditional and modern trades.
He is a skilled craftsman.
This furniture was made by a master craftsman.
A more formal or literary term for a craftsman or artisan, often used in historical or traditional contexts.
The temple was built by nameless craftsmen.
Specifically refers to a craft artist or artisan in the field of applied arts (kōgei), such as ceramics, lacquerware, or textiles. Emphasizes artistic creation.
She is a famous ceramic craft artist.
Highlighting expertise in a particular traditional Japanese craft, often with a title or honorific.
Attach the name of the craft to 職人 to specify the type of craftsman. Very common and natural.
Becoming a sushi craftsman requires long training.
He has 40 years of experience as a cabinetmaker (wood joinery craftsman).
A master craftsman or great artisan, often used historically or to praise exceptional skill. Implies fame and mastery.
A term for a highly skilled artisan or master, often used in titles or brand names. Conveys a sense of artistry and tradition.
Describing someone who approaches any task with the care and precision of a craftsman, not necessarily in a manual trade.
Refers to the spirit or temperament of a craftsman: dedication, meticulousness, and pride in one's work. Often used to describe someone's work ethic.
You can sense the craftsman's spirit in his work.
Similar to 職人気質, meaning having the temperament or disposition of a craftsman. Slightly more colloquial.
職人 is the everyday word for a skilled manual worker. 工匠 is more formal and often historical. 工芸家 specifically refers to an artist in the craft arts (kōgei) field, emphasizing artistic expression over mere technical skill.
Craftsman: carpenter, plasterer, sushi chef
Artisan: craftsman of temple architecture
Craft artist: ceramic artist
In English, 'craftsman' can be used metaphorically for software developers or designers. In Japanese, 職人 is strongly associated with manual trades. Using it for a programmer may sound odd unless you explicitly add 気質 or 肌 to describe their attitude. For a software 'craftsman', consider 熟練したプログラマー (skilled programmer) or use 職人気質のプログラマー.
He is a skilled programmer.
この刀は名工の手によるものだ。
This sword is the work of a master craftsman.
彼は「木の匠」と呼ばれている。
He is called a 'master of wood' (wood craftsman).
彼女はプログラマーだが、職人気質でコードを書く。
She's a programmer, but she writes code with a craftsman's meticulousness.
My father has a craftsman's temperament and fixes everything himself.