Translation guide
The person who is the leader or primary decision-maker of a family unit. In Japanese, the most common term is 世帯主 (setainushi) for official/administrative contexts, while 家長 (kachō) refers to the patriarchal family head in a traditional sense. The concept is often tied to legal registration, family registry (戸籍), and traditional family structure (家制度).
The person registered as the head of a household for government documents, census, or utility contracts.
The standard term for the head of a household in official contexts. This person is listed on the resident record (住民票) and is responsible for the household.
世帯主の名前を記入してください。
Please fill in the name of the head of the household.
彼はこの家の世帯主です。
He is the head of this household.
The male head of a family in a traditional Japanese household, often with authority over family matters and lineage.
Refers to the head of a family, especially in the context of the pre-war ie (家) system. Carries a traditional, patriarchal nuance.
祖父は家長として家族をまとめていた。
My grandfather, as the head of the family, kept the family together.
The legal head of a household under the old family registration system (戸籍). Now largely historical, but still appears in some legal contexts.
Casually referring to the person who manages the household or makes decisions, without official or traditional connotations.
Literally 'the central pillar of the house,' a metaphor for the main breadwinner or the person who supports the family financially and emotionally.
父は家の大黒柱だ。
My father is the pillar of our family.
Means 'master of the household.' Can be used in a neutral or slightly traditional sense, but less formal than 家長.
彼は一家の主として責任を果たした。
He fulfilled his responsibilities as the head of the family.
Specifically referring to a woman who is the head of the household, often in modern or single-parent contexts.
A female head of household, used in official statistics or discussions about single mothers, etc.
女世帯主の割合が増えている。
The proportion of female heads of households is increasing.
世帯主 is the modern, administrative term used on official documents. 家長 is the traditional, patriarchal head of a family, often associated with the pre-war family system. In everyday conversation, people might simply say お父さん (father) or 主人 (husband/master) when referring to the male head, but these are not direct translations of 'head of household.'
The phrase 'head of a household' is not commonly used in casual Japanese. Instead, people refer to the role by relationship (e.g., 父, 主人) or use 世帯主 only in formal contexts. Saying 世帯の頭 (setai no atama) would be unnatural.
Under the old Civil Code, the head of the family led the household.