Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 上司 | jōshi | [d͡ʑo̞ːɕi] (narrow) |
| 長 | chō | [t͡ɕo̞ː] (narrow) [o̞sa̠] (narrow) |
| ボス | bosu | [bo̞sɨ] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the way you refer to a boss depends heavily on whether you are discussing a professional hierarchy, a specific title or a more casual group leader. For a direct superior or manager in a professional office setting, use 上司. To refer to the president of a company, the term 社長 is commonly used. You can also refer to a boss by their specific job title, such as 部長 for a department manager or head of department. If you are referring to the leader of a gang, a group or a more casual/impersonal 'boss' figure, use ボス.
What does it mean word for word?
The character 長 functions as a suffix meaning 'head' or 'chief' and is attached to titles to denote the person in charge, such as 社長 for company president.
Which one should you use?
Use 上司 when referring to a direct superior or manager in a professional office setting. In contrast, use ボス to refer to a leader of a gang, a group or a more casual/impersonal 'boss' figure.
How do you pronounce it?
jōshi
Did you know?
Examples in context
- 彼は私の上司です。He is my boss.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as your 上司.Tatoeba #105782 by bunbuku, translation #297905 by CK
- 彼はボスに忠実だ。He is loyal to his boss.This sentence is useful for describing someone's loyalty to their ボス.Tatoeba #110948 by bunbuku, translation #292738 by CK
- 社長はどこですか。Where's the boss?This sentence is useful for asking the location of a 長.Tatoeba #149184 by small_snow, translation #544691 by CK
- 86 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking in the office break room.
- 結衣 Yui新しい上司はどんな人ですか？Atarashii joushi wa donna hito desu ka?What kind of person is the new boss?
- 大翔 Hirotoとても厳しい上司ですよ。Totemo kibishii joushi desu yo.He is a very strict boss.
- 結衣 Yuiそれは大変そうですね。Sore wa taihen sou desu ne.That sounds difficult.
- 大翔 Hirotoええ、気をつけないと。Ee, ki o tsukenai to.Yeah, I have to be careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boss” translations and entries 上司, 長, ボス, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 長, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
