1.
apprentice; disciple; pupil learning a trade or craft
A person learning a trade, craft, or art under the guidance of a master. Implies a traditional master-apprentice relationship where skills are passed down through hands-on training.
A compound of 徒 (follower, companion) and 弟 (younger person, disciple). A somewhat formal or literary word that evokes the traditional system of learning trades through direct apprenticeship under a master (親方 or 師匠).
Common collocations
- 徒弟制度: apprenticeship system
- 徒弟教育: apprentice training
- 徒弟として働く: to work as an apprentice
- 徒弟関係: master-apprentice relationship
Similar words
- 弟子: disciple, pupil — more general and common; used for martial arts, traditional arts, and academic mentorship
- 見習い: trainee, intern — modern term for someone learning on the job
- 丁稚: shop boy, young apprentice — historical term for child apprentices in merchant houses
Cultural note
The 徒弟制度 was the primary way trades were transmitted in pre-modern Japan. While formal apprenticeship has declined, its spirit survives in fields like 寿司 making, 落語, and traditional crafts, where years of training under a master are still expected.