Nuance between 技法、手法、方法、テクニック、 etc


Basically just wanting to know if there's a clear difference between these
words. I get the feeling that テクニック is more like one person's own specific
technique for doing a thing (entirely guessing here, but that's what it sounds
like to me), while the others are more general. I also know that 方法 is quite
general and perhaps just a more formal version of 仕方 (and that 仕方 probably
requires a suru verb before it to clarify what method/technique it denotes),
but I'm lost on the difference between 技法 and 手法. Could it literally just be
that 手法 refers more specifically to hand-made crafts?

Would be really grateful if someone could a) confirm if my assumptions about
テクニック and 方法 are correct (please let me know if I'm wrong), and b) explain the
技法 and 手法 difference. Thanks!




You are right about テクニック being specific.

Another thing to note is 方法 is a generic _how to_ ; the others imply some sort
of skill one needs to learn. In this sense, テクニック/手法/技法 are quite similar.

[技法](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E6%8A%80%E6%B3%95/#jn-53757) and
[手法](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E6%89%8B%E6%B3%95/#jn-106201) are
inter-defined, so practically synonymous. They mean techniques in art, which
are mostly done manually, thus are interchangeable (are there crafts not by
hand in some way?). Perhaps 技法 has a connotation of more
established/technically distinct collection of methods/skills.

テクニック can be used for skills outside art. For example, speaking of sport
player's techniques, テクニック is fine but 技法/手法 would be odd.




You are right about テクニック being specific.

Another thing to note is 方法 is a generic _how to_ ; the others imply some sort
of skill one needs to learn. In this sense, テクニック/手法/技法 are quite similar.

[技法](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E6%8A%80%E6%B3%95/#jn-53757) and
[手法](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E6%89%8B%E6%B3%95/#jn-106201) are
inter-defined, so practically synonymous. They mean techniques in art, which
are mostly done manually, thus are interchangeable (are there crafts not by
hand in some way?). Perhaps 技法 has a connotation of more
established/technically distinct collection of methods/skills.

テクニック can be used for skills outside art. For example, speaking of sport
player's techniques, テクニック is fine but 技法/手法 would be odd.

