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.
journeyman
In the trades, the term for a person who has successfully completed their vocational training (apprenticeship) with the journeyman's examination.
Nach drei Jahren Ausbildung wurde er feierlich zum Tischler-Junggesellen ernannt.
After three years of training, he was ceremoniously appointed a journeyman carpenter.
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.
bachelor
Junggeselle generally refers to an unmarried man. Bachelor can also refer to an unmarried man, but it often presents him as particularly desirable. Junggeselle is therefore the better choice for a neutral statement.
Seine Freunde bezeichnen den unverheirateten Schauspieler einfach als Junggesellen.
His friends simply refer to the unmarried actor as a bachelor.
Die Zeitschrift bezeichnet den attraktiven Schauspieler als begehrten Bachelor.
The magazine calls the attractive actor a sought-after bachelor.
