How to say "smith" in Japanese

• かじや
  nounRefers to a smith or blacksmith as a person or trade, often with a colloquial feel from the suffix や. Use it when speaking of the individual craftsman or his workplace; it is less common.
• 鍛冶かじ
  nounCovers blacksmith and smith, the craft of forging metal and, by extension, the smith himself. Slightly more formal or literary than かじや; it is less common and rarely the everyday word.

Both words denote a smith or blacksmith and are less common; choose 「かじや」 for the person or shop, and 鍛冶 for the craft or as the slightly more formal term for a blacksmith.

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

• かじやsmith
• 鍛冶かじblacksmith