How to say "manager" in Japanese

• 社長しゃちょうJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounCovers 'manager' only for the person who runs a company — the president or top director. It is not the word for a department or middle manager.
  この会社かいしゃの社長しゃちょうは誰だれですか。↗

  Who is the boss of this company?
• マネージャーCommon
  nounThe loanword and the most direct equivalent: the straightforward choice when 'manager' is a job title or role, as for a project, a team, or a performer.
  スケジュールについてマネージャーと相談そうだんしたい。↗

  I want to talk with the manager about the schedule.
• 総務そうむCommon
  nounPrimarily 'general affairs' — the administrative function of an organization; when it means 'manager', it is the person in charge of that function, not a manager in general.
• 主任しゅにんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA title for the person in charge of a section or task; as 'manager' it suggests a working-level supervisor or senior staff member rather than the head of a company.
  その問題もんだいは主任しゅにんをひどく苦くるしめた。↗

  The problem tortured the chief.
• 主事しゅじCommon
  noun'Manager' here is in the sense of a superintendent or overseer — the person who runs an office or institution. For an ordinary workplace manager it is seldom the word you want.

Choose 「マネージャー」 as the direct, all-purpose equivalent; use 社長 only for the head of a company, 主任 for a section's person in charge, 総務 for general-affairs administration, and 主事 for an institutional superintendent.

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

• 社長しゃちょうcompany president
• マネージャーmanager
• 総務そうむgeneral affairs
• 主任しゅにんperson in charge
• 主事しゅじmanager
• 元締めもとじめmanager
• 経営者けいえいしゃmanager
• 支配人しはいにんmanager
• 世話役せわやくmanager
• 管理者かんりしゃmanager
• 世話人せわにんsponsor
• 管理人かんりにんadministrator
• 主管しゅかんsupervision
• 責任者せきにんしゃperson in charge (including a supervisory role for other staff)
• 用人ようにんmanager
• 館主かんしゅmanager
• 事務長じむちょうmanager
• マネmanager (esp. of school sports clubs)
• 御用人ごようにんmanager
• 太夫元たゆうもとmanager (theatrical company)
• ジャーマネmanager
• 頭首とうしゅboss
• 運営者うんえいしゃoperator
• 主任者しゅにんしゃperson in charge
• 運用者うんようしゃoperator
• 管理監督者かんりかんとくしゃsupervisor
• 管理員かんりいんadministrator (of a building, etc.)
• 管理士かんりしadministrator (of a building)
• まとめ役まとめやくmediator
• 帳元ちょうもと(business) manager
• マスターproprietor
• 主幹しゅかんmanager
• パトロンpatron
• 監事かんじsupervisor
• 監督かんとくdirector
• 胴元どうもとmanager
• 世話焼きせわやきmanager