副会長
The English phrase 'vice chairman' is translated into Japanese as 副会長.
副会長 is a formal way to refer to a vice chairman as the deputy or second-in-command.
Meaning: deputy chairman (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 副会長 is used for the vice head of an association, club or committee, 副社長 is the standard term for a vice president of a corporation. Additionally, in the context of a non-profit organization or a formal board of directors, the term 副理事長 is often used instead of 副会長.
Did you know?
- In Japanese business culture, the 副 in 副会長 does not always imply a subordinate role. Sometimes, a retiring president is promoted to 会長 and a current president is titled 副会長 to maintain a specific social hierarchy.
- The character 副 (fuku) is also used in the word 副詞 (fukushi), which means 'adverb' in Japanese grammar. This is because an adverb is seen as a word that is 'subordinate' or 'secondary' to a main verb.
- The word 会長 (kaichō) uses the character 長 (chō), which means 'long'. This character is used for leaders because it implies someone who has a 'long' period of experience or stands at the 'head' of a long line of people.
Examples in context
- 当社の副会長をご紹介します。彼は会長の助手です。Let me introduce our vice chairman. He is the chairman's assistant.
- 当社の副会長として、京田さんがご就任されました。Mr. Kyoda has assumed the position of vice chairman in our company.
- 話を聞いてください、副会長。Please listen to me, Vice Chairman.
- 彼はこのクラブの副会長です。Kare wa kono kurabu no fuku-kaichou desu.He is the vice chairman of this club.
- 副会長に任命されました。Fuku-kaichou ni ninmei saremashita.I was appointed as the vice chairman.
- 新しい副会長は誰ですか？Atarashii fuku-kaichou wa dare desu ka?Who is the new vice chairman?
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are discussing a meeting at their club.
- 結衣 Yui今日の会議に副会長は出席しますか？Kyō no kaigi ni fukukaichō wa shussekishimasu ka?Will the vice chairman attend today's meeting?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、大翔さんが副会長として来ます。Hai, Hiroto-san ga fukukaichō to shite kimasu.Yes, Hiroto will come as the vice chairman.
- 結衣 Yuiそれは心強いですね。Sore wa kokorozuyoi desu ne.That is reassuring.
- 大翔 Hiroto準備をしっかりしておきましょう。Junbi o shikkari to shite okimashō.Let's make sure we are well-prepared.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 副会長, CC BY-SA 4.0.
