匠 jiàng artisan
artisan; craftsman; workman
How to remember 匠: 匚 container + 斤 catty = artisan. The container by the door holds a catty of nails and forty chisels, each one worn smooth by the old artisan.
Component breakdown
匠 = 匚 container + 斤 catty
- 匚 container
- 斤 catty
The container by the door holds a catty of nails and forty chisels, each one worn smooth by the old artisan.
How it is used
- A skilled craftsman - 木匠 (mùjiàng) carpenter, 工匠 (gōngjiàng) artisan, 铁匠 (tiějiàng) blacksmith.
- The suffix -匠 names hand-trade masters; extended to 匠人精神 (craftsman spirit) - dedication to one's craft.
- 别具匠心 (biéjù-jiàngxīn) = showing great ingenuity/originality, literally 'having a craftsman's unique mind'.