Translation guide
The person who leads or represents a family unit. In Japanese, the term depends on context: legal/formal head of household, family leader in a traditional sense, or simply the person in charge at home.
The person registered as the head of a household in official documents, such as a family register (koseki) or resident record.
The legal head of a household, used in official contexts like resident registration and census. Gender-neutral.
I am registered as the head of the household on the resident record.
The head of a family under the old koseki system (pre-1947). Still used in historical or traditional contexts, but now largely replaced by 世帯主 in modern legal usage.
The person who holds authority over the family, often in a traditional, patriarchal, or lineage-based context.
The head of a family or household, often implying patriarchal authority. Used in discussions of family structure, inheritance, or traditional roles.
My grandfather was respected as the head of this family.
The current head of a family, especially in the context of a long-established lineage, samurai family, or traditional household. Often used for the head of a prestigious family.
The head of a clan or extended family group. Used in anthropological or historical contexts, or for tribal leaders.
The person who manages household affairs or is seen as the boss at home, often used humorously or colloquially.
Literally 'central pillar', figuratively the breadwinner or main support of a family. Often used to describe the person who financially sustains the household.
My father has worked as the breadwinner of the family.
The master or head of a household. Can be used in both serious and light-hearted contexts.
In casual conversation, a wife may refer to her husband as 主人 (shujin, 'master') or 亭主 (teishu, 'household head'), implying he is the head of the family. Note: 主人 can also mean 'my husband' without the head-of-family nuance.
These terms can be seen as old-fashioned or sexist; use with care. 主人 is more common, 亭主 is more colloquial and sometimes derogatory.
My old man is always sleeping on the sofa.
世帯主 is the modern legal term for the head of a household, used in official documents. 家長 refers to the family head in a traditional or patriarchal sense, often implying authority. 戸主 is the old legal term from the pre-1947 koseki system and is now mostly historical.
In everyday English, 'head of the family' can be used loosely. In Japanese, directly translating it may sound overly formal or old-fashioned. Use 大黒柱 for the breadwinner, or simply describe the role with phrases like 家族をまとめる人 (person who holds the family together).
In the old family register, my father was the head of the family.
彼は代々続く商家の当主です。
He is the current head of a long-established merchant family.
その部族では族長が重要な決定を下します。
In that tribe, the clan leader makes important decisions.
He feels the responsibility of being the head of the family.