Translation guide
Handicraft refers to items made by hand with skill, or the activity of making them. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 手芸 (shugei), which covers a wide range of decorative crafts like knitting, embroidery, and sewing. For traditional crafts or artisan work, 工芸 (kōgei) is used. The verb 'to do handicrafts' is often expressed as 手芸をする.
The general activity or hobby of making decorative items by hand, often using textiles, thread, or paper.
The most common word for handicrafts as a hobby, including knitting, embroidery, sewing, and similar activities.
母は手芸が得意です。
My mother is good at handicrafts.
週末に手芸を楽しんでいます。
I enjoy doing handicrafts on weekends.
The verb phrase meaning 'to do handicrafts'.
彼女は毎日手芸をしています。
She does handicrafts every day.
Literally 'hand work', can refer to handicrafts or manual labor. Often implies a more rustic or traditional feel.
祖母は手仕事が好きで、よく編み物をします。
My grandmother likes handiwork and often knits.
Loanword from English, used in contexts like craft fairs or workshops, but less common in daily conversation.
ハンドクラフトのイベントに行きました。
I went to a handicraft event.
Handicrafts as traditional or artistic crafts, often with cultural significance, made by skilled artisans.
Refers to industrial arts or crafts, especially traditional Japanese crafts like pottery, lacquerware, and textiles.
この地域は工芸が盛んです。
This region is known for its handicrafts.
伝統工芸を学ぶために京都へ行きました。
I went to Kyoto to learn traditional handicrafts.
A more formal term combining 'hand' and 'craft', used in official contexts.
Referring to a specific object that is made by hand, often as a souvenir or gift.
A general term for a handmade item, emphasizing that it was made by hand rather than mass-produced.
これは母の手作り品です。
This is a handicraft made by my mother.
A craft item, usually implying artistic or traditional value.
この工芸品はとても美しいです。
This handicraft is very beautiful.
A handicraft item, typically from hobbies like knitting or embroidery.
手芸 (shugei) is used for handicrafts as a hobby, like knitting or embroidery. 工芸 (kōgei) refers to artistic or traditional crafts, often with cultural value, such as pottery or lacquerware. Use 手芸 for everyday crafts and 工芸 for more formal or traditional crafts.
The literal translation '手の工芸' or 'ハンドクラフト' is not natural in most contexts. Stick to 手芸 or 工芸 depending on the nuance.
Specifically 'traditional handicrafts', often used for officially designated crafts.
伝統工芸品を買いました。
I bought traditional handicraft items.
手工芸の展示会が開かれます。
A handicraft exhibition will be held.
手芸品を友達にプレゼントしました。
I gave a handicraft item to my friend as a present.