noun
artisan; craftsman; master craftsperson
Refers to a skilled craftsperson, especially someone with refined manual or traditional craft skill. 匠 often sounds more elevated than ordinary 職人; 'carpenter' is possible in context but is not the only meaning.
この家具には匠の技が生きている。
The skill of a master artisan lives on in this furniture.
寺の修復には多くの匠が携わった。
Many skilled craftsmen took part in restoring the temple.
noun
Only when written 工
Restricted to the spelling 工. As a standalone noun read たくみ, this use is uncommon and literary or explanatory in modern Japanese; it refers to skill, dexterity, craftsmanship, or design.
古い解説文では、「工」が技巧や意匠を表す名詞として使われることがある。
In older explanatory writing, 工 read たくみ may be used as a noun meaning technique or design.
noun
Only when written 工
Dated use restricted to 工. It refers to a contrivance, scheme, artifice, or trick; modern Japanese would usually use words such as 策, たくらみ, or からくり instead.
古い文章では、「敵の工を見破る」のように策略の意味で使われることがある。
In older writing, an expression like 敵の工を見破る may use 工 to mean a scheme or stratagem.
A more everyday word for a craftsperson or skilled worker; 匠 emphasizes exceptional mastery or artistry.
Usually an adjective or noun meaning skillful or skillfulness; it shares the reading but is written differently and focuses on skill rather than the person.
Means design or artistic conception; it overlaps with the rare 工 sense of design but is a normal modern word.
The historical derivation is uncertain. 匠 and 工 are conventional kanji spellings for たくみ, associating the word with artisans, craft, and skill, but the spelling alone should not be treated as a precise origin explanation.