How to say "premier" in Japanese

• 総理そうりCommon
  nounCovers the prime minister or premier as head of a cabinet government; it is an abbreviation of 総理大臣 and is typically used for Japan's own prime minister in speech and writing.
  彼かれは総理そうりのたっての要請ようせいを固辞こじした。↗

  He firmly refused the Premier's earnest request.
• 首相しゅしょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe general term for the premier or prime minister of any country, and also for a chancellor in Germany or Austria; this is usually the safest word when talking about foreign heads of government.
  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.
• 宰相さいしょうCommon
  nounGlossed as prime minister, premier, or chancellor, but in practice it is a literary or historical-sounding word; it is seldom the word you want for the modern sense of 'premier'.
• 総理大臣そうりだいじんJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe full form for the prime minister or premier as head of a cabinet government; like 総理, it refers chiefly to Japan's prime minister and is used in formal contexts such as official titles.
  総理大臣そうりだいじんが辞任じにんした。↗

  The Prime Minister has resigned.

For 'premier' meaning a country's prime minister, 首相 is the usual general term; 総理 and 総理大臣 are standard for Japan's head of government, while 宰相 is a literary or historical choice.

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

• 総理そうりprime minister (as the head of a cabinet government)
• 首相しゅしょうprime minister
• 宰相さいしょうprime minister
• 総理大臣そうりだいじんprime minister (as the head of a cabinet government)
• 内閣総理大臣ないかくそうりだいじんprime minister (as the head of a cabinet government)