棟梁

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 棟梁 is read as とうりょう and is a master carpenter who leads and takes responsibility for a building crew, or more broadly a leader.
• Basic usage: Use 棟梁が柱の傾きを確認する for a master carpenter checking whether a column is leaning and 棟梁の合図で作業を始める for starting work at the leader's signal.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Distinction between 棟梁 and 職人
  • The headword denotes the leader responsible for directing craftspeople, while the comparison term broadly denotes a skilled craftsperson doing the work.