How to say "chief" in Japanese

• 主おもCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'chief' as an adjective meaning 'main', 'principal', or 'important' — the chief reason, aim, or part of something. It is not a word for a person who leads, and it is not a title.
  読書どくしょが彼かれのおもな楽たのしみだ。↗

  Reading is his chief amusement.
• キャップCommon
  nounCovers 'chief' when it refers to a person — a leader or head — and its senses also include 'captain (of a team)'. In the leader and head senses it overlaps with チーフ.
• 主要しゅようJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'chief' as an adjective meaning 'main', 'principal', or 'major'. It overlaps closely with 主, which shares the 'main' and 'principal' senses.
  日本にっぽんの主要しゅよう作物さくもつは米こめである。↗

  The main crop of Japan is rice.
• チーフCommon
  prenominal modifier, nounThe loanword for 'chief' or 'head', used of a person — for example the head of a team or section. It does not cover the adjectival 'main' or 'principal' sense; use 主 or 主要 for that.
• 署長しょちょうCommon
  nounSpecifically the chief of a police station or the head of an office — an official title, not a general word for 'chief'. For other kinds of chief, チーフ is the broader choice.
  彼かれは警察署けいさつしょ長ちょうです。↗

  He is the chief of a police station.

Use 主 or 主要 when 'chief' means 'main' or 'principal'; for a person who leads or heads, 「キャップ」 and 「チーフ」 are used, 「キャップ」 also covering a team captain; 署長 is specifically a police or office head.

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

• 主おもchief
• キャップleader
• 主要しゅようchief
• チーフchief
• 署長しょちょうchief (of police)
• 長官ちょうかんsecretary (government)
• 親方おやかたmaster
• 所長しょちょうhead (of an office, laboratory, etc.)
• 首長しゅちょうhead (of organization, organisation)
• 主席しゅせきhead
• 首領しゅりょうhead
• 親玉おやだまboss
• 領袖りょうしゅうleader
• 長ちょうhead
• 主たるしゅたるmain
• 親分おやぶんboss
• 主任しゅにんperson in charge
• 主なおもなchief
• 主なるおもなるmain
• 頭目とうもくchief
• 頭株あたまかぶchief
• 主だったおもだったchief
• 上首じょうしゅchief
• めぼしいnotable
• 頭領とうりょうhead
• 頭首とうしゅboss
• お頭おかしらleader
• 巨魁きょかいringleader
• 主長しゅちょうhead
• 主任者しゅにんしゃperson in charge
• 長おさhead
• たてcentral
• おやびんboss
• 主しゅleader (of a country, group, etc.)
• マスターleader
• 大将たいしょうhead
• 筆頭ひっとうhead
• 棟梁とうりょうchief
• 官つかさchief
• 頭あたまleader