bachelor / journeyman
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bachelor
A man who is unmarried. The term is often used for men who have passed the usual marrying age and live a single life.
Mein Onkel ist überzeugter Junggeselle und reist sehr viel.
My uncle is a confirmed bachelor and travels a lot.
The word consists of 'jung' (young) and 'Geselle' (journeyman / companion). Traditionally, a 'Geselle' is a tradesman after completing an apprenticeship, or a companion. The meaning depends strongly on the context.
Er ist ein junger Geselle, der gerade seine Prüfung bestanden hat.
He is a young journeyman who has just passed his exam.
'Junggeselle' (bachelor / journeyman) is an N-declension noun. This means it takes the ending '-n' in all cases except the nominative singular.
Ich habe dem Junggesellen zum bestandenen Examen gratuliert.
I congratulated the journeyman on passing his exam.
The meaning 'tradesman' is used exclusively in the professional context of training ('Lehre' (apprenticeship), 'Gesellenprüfung' (journeyman's examination)). In all other situations, it refers to the unmarried man.
Als frischgebackener Junggeselle im Bäckerhandwerk sucht er nun eine Stelle.
As a newly qualified journeyman in the baking trade, he is now looking for a job.
Common phrases are 'ein eingefleischter Junggeselle' (a confirmed bachelor) or 'sein Junggesellenleben genießen' (to enjoy one's bachelor life). A well-known ritual before a wedding is the 'Junggesellenabschied' (bachelor party).
Er genießt sein Leben als Junggeselle und hat keine Eile zu heiraten.
He enjoys his life as a bachelor and is in no hurry to get married.
master / champion
'der Meister' and 'der Junggeselle' can both have to do with training and professional levels in the trades, but they do not mean the same thing. A 'Junggeselle' has completed his apprenticeship and passed the journeyman's examination. A 'Meister' is a higher level: he has also passed the master craftsman's examination and is often allowed to run a business and train apprentices. The words can be confused because outside the trades, 'Junggeselle' also means an unmarried man. In a professional context, you should therefore pay close attention to the context. In the trades, a 'Junggeselle' is not yet a 'Meister'.
Nach der Prüfung arbeitet Paul als Junggeselle in einer kleinen Bäckerei.
After the exam, Paul works as a journeyman in a small bakery.
Der Meister kontrolliert die Arbeit des neuen Lehrlings in der Schreinerei.
The master craftsman checks the new apprentice's work in the carpentry workshop.