事業主
jigyōnushi
The English phrase 'business owner' is translated into Japanese as 事業主 (jigyōnushi).
事業主 is used to describe a person who owns and operates a business or commercial enterprise. While it refers to the owner, it is often used in technical or legal contexts to identify the entity responsible for a business.
Which one should you use?
Depending on the specific context, other terms may be more appropriate. If you are referring specifically to the owner of a small physical shop or storefront, use 店主. If you are referring to someone in a management, leadership or entrepreneurial role, the term 経営者 is more common. 事業主 functions more as a technical or legal designation for the owner.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
事業主 is a technical or legal term. In more common professional contexts, when referring to someone who runs or owns a company, the formal term 経営者 is often used.
How do you pronounce it?
jigyōnushi
Did you know?
- In legal documents, a business owner might actually be referred to as 法人 (hōjin), which literally translates to 'legal person'.
- The character 主 in 事業主 also appears in 家主 (landlord) and 主人 (master or husband), reflecting a historical linguistic connection between owning a business and owning a household.
- The term 事業 (jigyō) within the phrase does not only mean 'business' or 'enterprise', but it can also refer to 'public works' or social undertakings.
Examples in context
- 彼は小さな商店の事業主です。Kare wa chiisana shouten no jigyou-nushi desu.He is the owner of a small shop.
- 事業主としての責任は重いです。Jigyou-nushi to shite no sekinin wa omoi desu.The responsibility as a business owner is heavy.
- 新しい事業主が店を引き継いだ。Atarashii jigyou-nushi ga mise o hikitsuida.A new business owner took over the shop.
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are talking about their career goals.
- 陽太 Yota将来は自分で店を持ちたいな。Shōrai wa jibun de mise o mochitai na.I want to own my own shop in the future.
- 美咲 Misaki事業主になるのは大変そうだよ。Jigyōnushi ni naru no wa taihen sō da yo.Becoming a business owner seems tough.
- 陽太 Yotaでも、自由な働き方ができるしね。Demo, jiyū na hatarakikata ga dekiru shi ne.But you can work in a more flexible way.
- 美咲 Misaki確かに。陽太なら頑張れそう。Tashika ni. Yōta nara ganbaresō.True. I think you could do it, Yota.
