匠 meaning and stroke order
Artisan, craftsman, workman
How to write 匠, stroke by stroke
6 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Meaning of 匠
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- craftsman
How 匠 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 匚 (box), shared by 14 characters on this site.
How to remember 匠
匠 is built from 匚 (a box open on one side) wrapped around 斤 (jīn, an axe). Picture a craftsman's toolbox with an axe inside, ready for work.
匠 rarely appears alone. It usually follows a material or trade to name a skilled worker, as in 木匠 (mùjiàng, carpenter) and 铁匠 (tiějiang, blacksmith). Example: 他爷爷是村里的木匠。 (Tā yéye shì cūn lǐ de mùjiàng.) His grandfather is the village carpenter.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 匠 with 近 (jìn, near), because both contain 斤. Remember that 匠 has the box 匚 open on the right, while 近 has the walking radical 辶. Note also that in words like 铁匠 and 鞋匠, 匠 is often read in the neutral tone (jiang).
Common words with 匠
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
匠 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 匠
How many strokes are in 匠?
匠 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 匠 mean?
匠 (jiàng) means artisan, craftsman, workman. A common word with it is 木匠 (mùjiàng), meaning "carpenter".
How do you pronounce 匠?
匠 is pronounced jiàng, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 匠?
The radical of 匠 is 匚, which carries the idea of "box". Dictionaries list 匠 under this radical.
Is 匠 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 匠 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 匠心 mean?
匠心 (jiàngxīn) means the careful, inventive thinking of a craftsman. It shows up in phrases like 别具匠心 (biéjù-jiàngxīn), which praises a design or work for being original and clever.
What is the difference between 工匠 and 工人?
工匠 (gōngjiàng) is a skilled artisan who makes things by hand, often with traditional craft skills. 工人 (gōngrén) is a general word for any worker, such as a factory worker.