noun
lousy carpenter; incompetent carpenter
Derogatory term for a carpenter who does poor work. The word 雪隠 (せっちん) originally means 'toilet', implying the carpenter's work is fit only for a toilet. Rare and old-fashioned; not commonly used in modern Japanese.
あの大工は雪隠大工だと言われている。
That carpenter is said to be a lousy carpenter.
Neutral term for a carpenter. 雪隠大工 adds a strong derogatory nuance.
Compound of 雪隠 (せっちん, 'toilet') and 大工 (だいく, 'carpenter'). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely arose as a disparaging metaphor for shoddy workmanship.