How to say "carving" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 彫刻ちょうこくnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe default word for carving as an art or craft — shaping wood, stone, and similar materials — and for sculpture, including finished carved works. This is the choice for most contexts.
- 彫塑ちょうそno-adjectiveA more technical term for carving, found mainly in art discussion and writing. For an actual carving or sculpture, 彫刻 is the word you want.
- 刻こくnounSeldom the word you want for carving on its own: it mostly appears within other words, and its "cutting; mincing" senses sit outside the art of carving. Use 彫刻 instead.
Choose 彫刻 for carving and sculpture in general, including finished works; 彫塑 is a more technical art term for the discipline; 刻 seldom stands alone and is rarely what you want for carving.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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