How to say "chancellor" in Japanese

• 首相しゅしょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe usual word for a country's prime minister; it is also how 'chancellor' is rendered when it means the head of government of Germany or Austria, as in news about the German chancellor.
  首相しゅしょうの留守るす中ちゅうは外務大臣がいむだいじんが代理だいりを務つとめる。↗

  The foreign minister will act for the Prime Minister in his absence.
• 総長そうちょうCommon
  nounThe head of a university; some universities use it as the official title of their president, and it also covers 'vice-chancellor', the British term for a university's chief executive.
• 学長がくちょうCommon
  nounThe usual title of a university's head; when 'chancellor' refers to a university's president or chief officer, this is the natural word to choose.
  その大学だいがくの学長がくちょうは辞職じしょくしそうである。↗

  The president of the university is likely to resign.
• 宰相さいしょうCommon
  nounA synonym of 首相 with a formal, historical flavor; it can render 'chancellor' for a head of government, but for Germany's present-day leader 首相 is the word actually used.

For the head of government of Germany or Austria use 首相; for a university's head use 学長, with 総長 as the title some universities use and the match for 'vice-chancellor'; 宰相 is a formal-sounding alternative to 首相.

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

• 首相しゅしょうprime minister
• 総長そうちょうpresident (of a university)
• 学長がくちょう(university) president
• 宰相さいしょうprime minister
• 大学学長だいがくがくちょうpresident (of a university)