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.
skilled trades
All the people and businesses that work in skilled trades.
Das deutsche Handwerk leidet unter einem Mangel an Fachkräften.
The German skilled trades sector is suffering from a shortage of skilled workers.
to put a stop to someone
To prevent someone from continuing their harmful or criminal activities.
Die Polizei konnte der Einbrecherbande endlich das Handwerk legen.
The police were finally able to put a stop to the burglary gang.
to know one's craft
To have an excellent command of the skills and knowledge needed for an activity.
Die Köchin versteht ihr Handwerk, das Essen war ausgezeichnet.
The cook knows her craft; the food was excellent.
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.
industry
Industrie and Handwerk can both refer to activities involved in making products. Industry typically uses machines and operates in larger factories, while Handwerk usually involves working with one's hands and using specialized tools. For a business, the method and organization of production are therefore the main factors determining which word is more appropriate.
Im Handwerk baut der Tischler den Schrank mit seinen Werkzeugen selbst.
In the craft trade, the carpenter builds the cabinet himself using his own tools.
Die Möbelindustrie fertigt die Schränke mit vielen Maschinen in einer Fabrik.
The furniture industry manufactures the cabinets with many machines in a factory.
