Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
大工 (だいく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Meanings 1
noun
carpenter
Refers to a professional carpenter, especially one who builds wooden structures such as houses and temples. Often implies traditional Japanese carpentry skills.
だい
工く
に
よっ
て
建た
て
られ
た
。
This temple was built by a skilled carpenter.
Written forms 大だい 工く Usage 99%
Standard kanji spelling; the reading だいく is unambiguous.
だいく Usage 1%
Kanji 工 craft, construction, katakana e radical (no. 48) Similar words 指さし 物もの 師し A cabinetmaker or joiner who makes fine furniture and fittings, often without nails, whereas 大工 is a general carpenter for building structures.
建けん 築ちく 家か An architect who designs buildings; 大工 is the craftsman who physically builds them.
Etymology From Middle Chinese 大工 (dɑiH kuwng, 'master craftsman'). The Japanese reading だいく reflects the go-on pronunciation. Originally referred to a master artisan in various fields, but narrowed to mean 'carpenter' in Japanese.