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匠 means 'artisan'

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Strokes : 6    Frequency: 1425   JLPT: N1    Usefulness: 5    Study set: 5-21    Grade: 8   Intermediate lesson: -    Beginner lesson: -   Begins 1 word   Used in 24 words   Used in 157 names   Not used as a component
Jōyō (常用)
Common readings
On
   ショウ
Additional readings
Kun    たくみ artisan, workman, carpenter
Notes
A Joy o' Kanji essay is available for 匠 - click the badge to download
See how marketers have coopted 匠, which conveys an impressive mastery of an art or craft. This kanji was originally associated with carpentry, which carries little prestige in the United States. To grasp how it could be the opposite in Japan, I consulted Len Brackett, once a temple carpenter in Kyoto. His comments illuminate this essay, as do photos of his work.
View in the essay collection    All Joy o' Kanji essays  
The essay is also included in the following Thematic Bundles
38
The Artistic Mindset
彩 匠 彫 緻
This bundle is a masterclass in the artistic mindset. Essay 1290 celebrates vibrant colors, whether for painting with watercolors or oil or for designing spaces. Essay 1388 explores traditional craftsmanship, particularly highlighting the beauty of Japanese carpentry and the rigors of apprenticing for ages to master a skill. Essay 1590 covers several fields, from carving wood, making sculptures, and engraving metal to creating traditional tattoos that form a complete picture over much of the body. Essay 1965 extols the virtues of extreme detail, especially in doing elaborate drawings that bring dreamworlds to life with extraordinary realism.
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Components
⿷  匚 side open box  斤 axe  
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Mastery
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Most useful words by reading
In the most useful 10,000 words in Japanese, 匠 is used 3 times, read 1 way.
Across all words in Japanese, 匠 is used 24 times, read 2 ways (with 1 variation).
Showing:
ショウ : 20 words FIND ALL
し し ょ う 1 し し ょ う 2
noun, suffix
1. master; teacher
noun
2. coach who owns his stable  (sumo term)
(click the word for examples and links)
ショウ (read as じょう) : 2 words FIND ALL
た か じ ょ う 0
noun
falconer; hawker
(click the word for examples and links)
たくみ : 2 words FIND ALL
1. workman; artisan; mechanic; carpenter
2. craft; skill
(click the word to view an additional 1 reading, 1 meaning and 2 forms, examples and links)
Quick links
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More information
Wiktionary ⇗ | Unicode.org ⇗ | Google Japan ⇗ | Hanziyuan etymology ⇗
Additional data
Henshall: 1388  Joy o' Kanji : 1388  Key to Kanji: - 

Cascading kanji view

匠
ショウ    artisan   
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斤
キン   axe
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丅
カ   ゲ   した below, under   くだる to descend   さげる to lower, to reduce   
⺁
cliff
匚
side open box
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