How to say "successor" in Japanese

• 後任こうにんCommon
  no-adjectiveThe successor to a departing person's job, post or office — a new manager, principal or ambassador replacing a specific predecessor. It points to the office rather than family inheritance.
  スミス氏しが後任こうにんの委員長いいんちょうとして発表はっぴょうされた。↗

  Mr Smith was announced as the succeeding chairman.
• 家督かとくCommon
  nounInheritance or succession to family headship; as 'successor' it really denotes the estate or rights inherited rather than the person, so it is seldom the word you want when you mean the successor himself.
• 跡取りあととりCommon
  nounAn heir or successor viewed as the family's expected inheritor, typically the son who will carry on the family line or a business. It is about the person designated to follow.
  金持かねもちの商人しょうにんはその子こを養子ようしにして跡取あととりとした。↗

  The rich merchant adopted the boy and made him his heir.
• 後継こうけいCommon
  nounSuccession or a successor in a general sense, covering leadership of organizations, movements or lines of work. It often works as a modifier describing succession rather than naming a concrete person.
• 跡継ぎあとつぎJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe successor who takes over a family line, household or business — close to 跡取り but plainer and more everyday in feel. Use it for the concrete person who will carry things on.

For a person taking over a position or role use 後任 or 後継; for family inheritance and heirs choose among 家督, 「跡取り」 and 「跡継ぎ」, which differ in how concretely they picture the person.

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

• 後任こうにんsuccessor
• 家督かとくheir
• 跡取りあととりheir
• 後釜あとがまsuccessor
• 継承者けいしょうしゃsuccessor
• 後継者こうけいしゃsuccessor
• 後身こうしんsuccessor (e.g. organization)
• 後任者こうにんしゃsuccessor
• 世継ぎよつぎheir
• 世子せいしheir
• 後嗣こうしheir
• 嗣しsuccession
• 後継こうけいsuccessor
• 跡継ぎあとつぎsuccessor
• 後者こうしゃsuccessor
• つぎsuccessor
• 代わりかわりstand-in
• 継手つぎてsuccessor
• 後あとdescendant