Japanese word

工芸

Pronunciation

Romajikōgei

Meaning

  • nouncraft

Example

この町では工芸が盛んです。ko no machi de wa kō gei ga saka n de su

Craft is thriving in this town.

Illustration for 工芸 (craft)

More examples

この店では地元の工芸を手頃な価格で販売しています。ko no mise de wa ji moto no kō gei o te goro na ka kaku de han bai shi te i ma su

This shop sells local handicrafts at reasonable prices.

Core concept

Centers on skilled handwork that turns materials into useful or beautiful objects rather than factory-made goods.

Common phrases

  • 工芸を学ぶkō gei o mana bu

    study craft

  • 工芸の技法kō gei no gi hō

    craft techniques

  • 工芸の魅力kō gei no mi ryoku

    the appeal of craft

Similar words

手工芸shukōgei: The making of useful or decorative objects by hand, usually in small quantities.
手仕事teshigoto: Skilled work done by hand rather than by a machine.
細工saiku: The shaping or making of an object through careful manual work.

Definition in Japanese

手仕事によって実用品や美術品を作る技術やその分野。te shi goto ni yo tte jitsu yō hin ya bi jutsu hin o tsuku ru gi jutsu ya so no bun ya

Word origin

工芸 (kōgei) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 工 (kō, "work") and 芸 (gei, "art or skill"), giving the sense of skilled work that produces crafted objects.

Usage tips

  • English craft can also mean a skill or a vehicle such as an aircraft, but 工芸 (kōgei) is a noun for skilled making of objects.

Other meanings

  • handicraftnoun

Related words

  • 工芸品kōgeihinhandicraftnoun
  • 工芸家kōgeikacraftspersonnoun

Word lists with this word