How to say "engraving" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 彫刻ちょうこくnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers engraving and carving as a work or art of sculpture, whether wood, stone or metal. The default choice when referring to carved objects or the craft itself.
- 彫塑ちょうそno-adjectiveRefers to sculpture as an artistic discipline, encompassing both carving and modeling. Use it when discussing sculpture as a field of art rather than a particular engraved object.
- 刻印こくいんnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe act or result of engraving, inscribing or stamping an impression, as on a seal or metal surface. This is the word you want for engraving an inscription or mark onto something.
- 刻こくnounA literary reading meaning carving or engraving, also extending to cutting and mincing. It is seldom the standalone word you want for engraving; it mostly appears in fixed expressions and can denote a moment of time.
Use 彫刻 for sculpture/carving as an art form, 刻印 for stamping an inscription or seal, 彫塑 for sculpting, and 刻 mainly in abstract or literary senses of carving and time.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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