noun
candy sculpture; shaped candy
Traditional Japanese craft of shaping heated candy into figures of animals, people, etc.
祭りで飴細工の職人が龍を作っていた。
At the festival, a candy sculptor was making a dragon.
noun
deceptive appearance; all show; paper tiger
Figurative use: something that looks impressive but lacks substance. Often used in set phrases like 飴細工のような.
彼の計画は飴細工のようなものだ。
His plan is like a paper tiger—all show and no substance.
Also means 'paper tiger', but specifically refers to a papier-mâché tiger toy; 飴細工 emphasizes the fragility and superficiality of candy.
Compound of 飴 (ame, 'candy') and 細工 (saiku, 'craftsmanship'). The figurative sense derives from the idea of something that looks elaborate but is easily broken, like candy.