君主|くんしゅkunshu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounmonarch; sovereign; ruler; liege (lord)
   その君主くんしゅは臣民しんみんに対たいして絶対ぜったいの支配権しはいけんを持もっていた。↗

   The lord held absolute power over his subjects.

• Synonym帝王ていおうWrittenA written word for an emperor or sovereign; also figuratively the dominant figure in a field, as in 「暗黒街の帝王」.
• Synonym人君じんくんWrittenWritten language for a sovereign or ruler, as in 「人君の器」; rare, with 「君主」 the usual choice.
• Synonym国主こくしゅWrittenA written, mainly historical term for the ruler of a country, or an Edo-period daimyo with a domain of one or more provinces.
• Synonym国君こっくんWrittenWritten language for the ruler of a country, as in 「国君に仕える」; found mostly in classics and rarely used.
• Related主君しゅくんWrittenA written word for the lord whom retainers serve, as in 「主君に仕える」; it stresses the lord-vassal bond, while 「君主」 stresses rule of a state.
• Related殿様とのさまNeutralA respectful term for a feudal lord, as in 「殿様商売」; also figurative for a man who knows nothing of the world.
• Related領主りょうしゅWrittenA written word for a feudal lord, as in 「封建領主」; used mainly of the feudal system.
• Related主公しゅこうNeutralThe person one serves, or the protagonist of a work; rare — 「主君」 is the usual word.
• Antonym家来けらいNeutralA retainer or vassal serving a lord; contrasts with 「君主」, who rules from above.
• Antonym臣下しんかWrittenA written word for retainers or subjects who obey and serve a monarch; the opposite of 「君主」.

Use 「君主」 for the supreme ruler of a state — usually hereditary — as in 「君主制」 and 「立憲君主」. The lord whom retainers serve is 「主君」, the lord of a feudal domain is 「領主」, and Edo-period daimyo are 「殿様」; the opposite of 「君主」 is 「臣下」.

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

1. 一般的いっぱんてきに世襲せしゅうによって、ときに選挙せんきょによってきめられる、国家こっかの最高さいこう統治者とうちしゃ。伝統的でんとうてきには国家こっかの唯一ゆいいつの主権者しゅけんしゃ。