craft / trade
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craft / trade
A professional activity in which products are usually made by hand and with special tools, or services are provided, e.g. carpenter, baker, or hairdresser.
Er hat das Handwerk des Schreiners von Grund auf gelernt.
He learned the carpenter's trade from the ground up.
The word is made up of 'Hand' (hand) and 'Werk' (work). So it literally describes work that is done with the hands.
Töpferei ist ein altes Handwerk.
Pottery is an old craft.
When it refers to a profession, 'Handwerk' (craft / trade) is often combined with the verbs 'lernen' (to learn) or 'ausüben' (to practice / carry out).
Viele junge Leute möchten heute wieder ein Handwerk lernen.
Many young people today want to learn a trade again.
In this meaning, 'das Handwerk' (the skilled trades) often stands for the entire economic sector. You often find it in the news or in political discussions about the economy.
Die Regierung plant, das Handwerk mit neuen Programmen zu fördern.
The government is planning to support the skilled trades sector with new programs.
The idiom 'jemandem das Handwerk legen' means to put an end to a person's illegal or harmful actions. The person who is stopped is in the dative.
Die Ermittler wollen den Betrügern endlich das Handwerk legen.
The investigators finally want to put a stop to the fraudsters.
The expression 'sein Handwerk verstehen' means that someone has an excellent command of their work or a skill. The possessive pronoun ('sein', 'ihr') changes to match the person.
Diese Mechanikerin versteht ihr Handwerk wirklich, mein Auto läuft wieder perfekt.
This mechanic really knows her craft; my car is running perfectly again.
art
'die Kunst' and 'das Handwerk' can both have to do with skill, practice, and good work. 'die Kunst' emphasizes creative expression or a particularly difficult skill. 'das Handwerk' refers more to practical professional work with hands, tools, and materials, for example in building, baking, or repairing. In the expression 'sein Handwerk verstehen' (to know one's craft), it is also about very strong ability. Learners may confuse the words because some activities contain both: they require technique and can be beautiful or creative. 'Handwerk' fits more with practical making or production, while 'Kunst' fits more with creative or special design.
Frau Meier arbeitet im Handwerk und baut Möbel aus altem Holz.
Mrs. Meier works in the trades and builds furniture from old wood.
In dieser Ausstellung sieht man, wie viel Kunst in einfachen Formen stecken kann.
In this exhibition, you can see how much art can be found in simple forms.