How to say "boss" in Japanese

• ボスCommon
  nounThe loanword, taken straight from English; use it for the boss or leader of a group, team, or organization — the most direct equivalent of the English word.
  まるでボスのような話し方はなしかたをする。↗

  You talk as if you were the boss.
• 上司じょうしJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe person above you at work — your superior in the organization; it is relational, always someone's boss, and can also refer to the higher-ups collectively.
  上司じょうしに残業ざんぎょうさせられたんだよ。↗

  My boss made me work overtime.
• 親分おやぶんCommon
  nounA boss or chief in a father-figure role — the head of a gang or underworld group, the 'kingpin' sense; not the word for your own boss at the office.
  そのヤクザ達たちは対立たいりつするヤクザの親分おやぶんを暗殺あんさつする計画けいかくの仲間なかまに彼かれを入いれた。↗

  The gangsters let him in on their plan to knock off a rival gang leader.
• 親方おやかたCommon
  nounA master or foreman — the head of a workshop or crew, with workers under him; as respectful (sonkeigo) language, it also suits addressing the master directly.
• 首領しゅりょうCommon
  nounThe head or chief of a group or organization — the leader at the very top; the boss of a whole organization rather than anyone's personal boss.

Use 上司 for your boss at work; 「ボス」 is 'boss' borrowed directly; 親分 suggests a gang boss or father-figure chief; 親方 is the respectful term for a master or foreman; 首領 is the head of an organization.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ボスboss
• 上司じょうし(one's) superior
• 親分おやぶんboss
• 親方おやかたmaster
• 首領しゅりょうhead
• 組長くみちょうboss (esp. yakuza)
• 親玉おやだまboss
• 上役うわやくone's superior
• 顔役かおやくinfluential man
• 旗頭はたがしらleader
• 領袖りょうしゅうleader
• 突起とっきprotuberance
• 頭首とうしゅboss
• 御大おんたいboss
• 頭分かしらぶんboss
• ボスキャラboss (difficult enemy, usu. at the end of a section or level)
• おやびんboss
• 頭領とうりょうhead
• 上の人うえのひとsuperior
• お頭おかしらleader
• 大統領だいとうりょうbig man
• 旦那だんなsir
• 元締めもとじめboss (of a gambling den)
• 棟梁とうりょうchief
• 監督かんとくdirector
• 大将たいしょうhead
• パトロンpatron
• 胴元どうもとmanager
• 頭あたまleader