首相
shushō[ɕɨɕo̞ː]
The English word "chancellor" can be translated into Japanese as 首相 (shushō) or 宰相.
Meaning: 2. head of government in some German-speaking countries (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 首相 | shushō | [ɕɨɕo̞ː] (narrow) |
| 宰相 | saishō | [sa̠iɕo̞ː] (narrow) |
The term refers to the head of government in certain German-speaking countries. To specify the German Chancellor, you combine the country name with the title to form ドイツ首相 (doitsu shushō).
Which one should you use?
首相 is the standard, modern term used for a head of government, such as a Prime Minister or a Chancellor. In contrast, 宰相 is a more formal or literary term often used in historical contexts or when translating older titles like 'Chancellor' in a way that evokes a sense of historical weight.
How do you pronounce it?
shushō
Did you know?
- The word 宰相 uses the character 宰, which originally referred to a person who manages or chops meat, implying a person who 'carves' out decisions.
- The term 宰相 carries a connotation of being a 'kingmaker' or someone who manages the state from behind the scenes, whereas 首相 implies the public face of leadership.
- While 首相 is used for modern leaders, the term 宰相 was historically used in Japan to describe the 'Daijō-daijin', the highest-ranking official in the ancient imperial court.
Examples in context
- ゲアハルト・シュレーダーは第二次世界大戦を経験していない初のドイツ首相です。Gerhard Schroeder is the first German chancellor not to have lived through World War II.This sentence shows how to refer to a German chancellor using 首相.Tatoeba #225415 by tommy_san, translation #62752 by CK
- ドイツの首相Chancellor of GermanyThis is a phrase for the Chancellor of Germany using 首相.
- ドイツの首相は誰ですか。Doitsu no shushou wa dare desu ka.Who is the chancellor of Germany?
Example conversation
Two students are discussing current events during a break at school.
- 大翔 Hiroto今のドイツの首相を知っていますか。Ima no Doitsu no shushou o shitte imasu ka.Do you know the current chancellor of Germany?
- 結衣 Yui名前はよく分かりません。Namae wa yoku wakarimasen.I don't really know his name.
- 大翔 Hirotoニュースでよく名前が出てきますよ。Nyuusu de yoku namae ga dete kimasu yo.His name comes up in the news often.
- 結衣 Yui後で調べてみます。Ato de shirabete mimasu.I will look it up later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chancellor” translations and entries 首相, 宰相, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
