親方|おやかたoyakata[4]odaka (tail-high)

1. nounmaster; boss; chief; foreman; supervisor
2. noun, sumostable master
3. nouncraftsman; artisan
4. nounfoster parent

• Synonym上司じょうしNeutralYour superior at work, as in 「上司に報告」; the most general word for a workplace boss.
• Synonym師匠ししょうNeutralA master who teaches an art or craft, as in 「落語の師匠」; the usual word for traditional arts.
• Synonym棟梁とうりょうNeutralThe head of a team of carpenters, as in 「大工の棟梁」; also used figuratively for the mainstay of a group or nation.
• Synonym上役うわやくNeutralOne's superior at work, as in 「上役に叱られる」; a somewhat dated word.
• SynonymボスCasualLoanword for a boss or leader, as in 「ボスの命令」; colloquial.
• Synonym頭領とうりょうNeutralA chief or boss of a group, as in 「盗賊の頭領」; typical of gangs and bands, while 「親方」 points to a craftsman, a sumo stable master, or a boss.
• Synonymお頭おかしらNeutralA boss or chief, as in 「お頭」; heard in period dramas and among gangs or bands.
• Synonym宗匠そうしょうNeutralA master of an art, as in 「茶道の宗匠」; used mainly for tea ceremony and haiku.
• Synonym頭分かしらぶんNeutralA boss or leader of a group; old-fashioned and mostly seen in period dramas.
• Synonym職長しょくちょうNeutralA foreman who leads and supervises workers on site; used in factories and on construction sites.
• Synonym師しWrittenA teacher or mentor one looks up to, as in 「師と仰ぐ」; leans toward written and formal prose.
• SynonymおおがしらNeutralA leader of a large group; old-fashioned and rare.
• Synonym頭首とうしゅWrittenA chief or head, as in 「一族の頭首」; leans toward written and formal prose.
• RelatedリーダーNeutralLoanword for a leader, as in 「チームリーダー」; the most general word in this set.
• Related主任しゅにんNeutralA person in charge of a section, as in 「主任教諭」; mostly used for workplace job titles.
• RelatedチーフNeutralLoanword for a chief, as in 「チーフシェフ」; common in workplace titles.
• Related先生せんせいNeutralA teacher, doctor, or other professional, as in 「先生に相談する」; covers a very wide range of uses.
• Related指南役しなんやくNeutralSomeone who teaches and guides a skill or field of study; historically often an instructor of martial arts.
• Related指南番しなんばんNeutralAn instructor of martial arts; old-fashioned and mostly seen in period dramas.
• Related大師範だいしはんNeutralA grandmaster or senior instructor; used for the top grades in martial arts and tea ceremony.
• Related主任者しゅにんしゃNeutralThe person who manages a department or operation and is responsible for it; formal, seen in rules and documents. In everyday speech people say 「主任」.
• Antonym弟子でしNeutralA pupil or apprentice, as in 「弟子入り」; the counterpart of 「親方」.
• Antonym子方こかたNeutralA follower or henchman; old-fashioned. It pairs with 「親方」 but does not mean an apprentice learning a craft.

For a craftsman, a sumo stable master, or a boss of workers, use 「親方」, as in 「大工の親方」 and 「相撲の親方」. At the office say 「上司」; for teachers of traditional arts say 「師匠」; for a master carpenter say 「棟梁」. The opposite of 「親方」 is 「弟子」.

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

1. 親おやのように、または親おやとして頼たよる人ひと。
2. 年上としうえの者もの。
3. 技能ぎのうの師匠ししょう。棟梁とうりょう。
4. 相撲すもうの年寄としよりのこと。