apprentice 復習

舞妓さんと芸妓さんの違いについてです。

KYOTO — Their black hair done up with colorful, delicately crafted hairpins, their faces painted white and their luxurious kimono like works of art, maiko apprentice geiko are often described as walking museums. The only place to catch a glimpse of these dazzling creatures is in Kyoto.
Geiko perform dances and songs classified as traditional Japanese performing arts, and play traditional musical instruments such as the three-stringed shamisen. Referred to as geiko in Kyoto, they entertain customers at banquets held mainly in zashiki tatami-floored rooms.
(以下省略)

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0004440751

私が取り上げるのは apprentice です。この単語の前後に maiko と geiko とあったのでmaiko を説明するような形で使われていると予測しました。なので、「前段階」というような意味かなと予想しました。(『ジーニアス英和辞典第五版』大修館)によると「見習い工、徒弟」とありました。この文章で舞妓さんと芸妓さんが分かったので、京都の街で探したいと思います。(Creative)