The kanji 工 primarily signifies "work," "craft," "construction," or "skill." It encompasses the idea of labor, manufacturing, or a specific trade or profession. It can also refer to something that is man-made or artificially created.

・On-yomi (音読み): こう (kō) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): None, but often appears in compound words relating to "work" or "construction".

⚫︎工場 Translation: factory; plant ⚫︎工事 Translation: construction; a construction project ⚫︎工作 Translation: work; craft; artwork

The kanji 工 is a pictograph. It depicts a tool, possibly a carpenter's square or a measuring instrument, which was used in construction and craftsmanship. The shape of the character reflects the tools used in building and manual labor. Over time, the form simplified.