How to say "painter" in Japanese

• 画家がかJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe default word for a painter in the sense of an artist who paints pictures. Use it for professionals and amateurs alike, as in talking about a famous painter or someone's profession.
  その画家がかは、いわば永遠えいえんの少年しょうねんだ。↗

  The artist is eternally a boy.
• 絵師えしCommon
  nounAlso a painter or artist, but with a nuance leaning toward creators of pictures, especially illustrations or distinctive personal styles. Often used for popular illustrators rather than fine-art painters.
• 書き手かきてCommon
  nounPrimarily means a writer, someone who writes; its glosses 'painter, drawer, calligrapher' reflect the literal sense of one who writes or draws. It is seldom the natural word when you mean a painter in the artistic sense.
• 画伯がはくCommon
  noun, noun (suffix)A respectful, honorific term for a painter or artist of distinction. Use it when speaking of or addressing an accomplished master painter with deference, not for ordinary everyday reference.

Use 画家 for a painter as an artist in ordinary contexts; 絵師 for illustrators or artist-creators; 画伯 as respectful address for a distinguished painter; 「書き手」 mainly means writer and only marginally covers painters.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 画家がかpainter
• 絵師えしpainter
• 書き手かきてwriter
• 絵かきえかきpainter
• ペインターpainter
• 舫いもやいpainter
• 画工がこうpainter
• 画手がしゅpainter
• 画匠がしょうpainter
• 画人がじんpainter
• ペンキ屋ペンキやpainter (of buildings, etc.)
• ペンキ職人ペンキしょくにんpainter
• 描き手かきてartist
• もやい綱もやいづなmooring line
• 画伯がはくpainter