How to say "owner" in Japanese

• オーナーCommon
  nounThe loanword for the owner of a business — a shop, restaurant, bar, company, or sports team. This is usually the word you want when 'owner' refers to someone who runs a business.
  オーナーの人ひと達たちは彼かれを支配人しはいにんに任命にんめいした。↗

  The owners appointed him manager.
• 持ち主もちぬしCommon
  nounThe person something belongs to: the owner of a lost item you are trying to return, or, figuratively, someone who possesses talent, beauty, or similar qualities.
  この家いえの持ち主もちぬしは誰だれですか。↗

  Who is the owner of this house?
• 所有者しょゆうしゃCommon
  nounThe owner in a legal or formal sense: the person with legal ownership of property such as land, a building, or a car; the term used in law and formal writing.
  この家いえの所有者しょゆうしゃは山田やまださんだ。↗

  This house belongs to Mr Yamada.
• 持ちもちJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)Not a word for a person: it names the act or state of having, holding, or owning something. Seldom the word you want for 'owner'; reach for it only when the having itself is the point.
  腰痛ようつう持もちです。↗

  I have back problems.
• 亭主ていしゅCommon
  nounA marginal match for 'owner': it really means the head of a household, the host of a gathering such as a tea ceremony, or the keeper of an inn; in everyday speech it often just means one's husband.

Use 「オーナー」 for a business owner, 所有者 for legal ownership of property, 「持ち主」 for the person something belongs to or who has a quality, 亭主 only for an innkeeper, host, or household head, and 「持ち」 never for a person.

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

• オーナーowner (esp. of a business)
• 持ち主もちぬしowner
• 所有者しょゆうしゃowner
• 持ちもちhaving
• 亭主ていしゅhousehold head
• 所持者しょじしゃowner
• 保有者ほゆうしゃowner
• 所有主しょゆうぬしowner
• 所蔵者しょぞうしゃowner
• 飼い主かいぬし(pet) owner
• 主ぬしowner
• マスターproprietor
• 親おや(pet) owner