How to say "protagonist" in Japanese

• 主人公しゅじんこうJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers the core sense of 'protagonist' as the main character of a story, novel, film, or drama. It is the usual, neutral word for this, and also covers 'hero' or 'heroine' in that leading role.
  主人公しゅじんこうは、本ほんの最後さいごで死しんだ。↗

  The hero died at the end of the book.
• してCommon
  nounAlso glossed 'protagonist', 'hero', or 'leading part', but in ordinary usage して mostly serves grammatical functions and is usually written in kana. As a noun it is a literary-flavored way to say 'hero', so for the main character of a story 主人公 is typically the better choice.

Use 主人公 for the main character of a story, drama, or similar narrative; 「して」 is primarily a literary term for a hero or leading part, so for the narrative sense it is generally a secondary choice.

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

• 主人公しゅじんこうprotagonist
• 後ジテのちじてprotagonist (in the second half of a play)
• 前ジテまえじてprotagonist (in the first half of a play)
• 立役たてやくleading actor
• してshite