金継ぎ (Japanese)

Where does "金継ぎ" come from?

The Japanese word 'kintsugi' is a compound derived from 'kin,' meaning gold, and 'tsugi,' meaning to join or mend. It perfectly describes the traditional craft of repairing broken ceramic vessels by highlighting their fractures with lacquer mixed with powdered gold, transforming damage into a feature of beauty.

Full etymology tree

• 金継ぎ (kintsugi) (Japanese), 'kintsugi (the art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold)'
  • compound 金 (kin) (Japanese)
  • compound 継ぎ (tsugi) (Japanese)

Updated May 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris