Translation guide
A woman who owns a business, especially a small shop, restaurant, or inn. Japanese uses different terms depending on the type of business and the speaker's relationship to her.
Referring to a woman who owns or runs a small business like a store, café, or eatery.
Common term for a female proprietor of a traditional Japanese inn (ryokan) or restaurant. Can also be used for the wife of the owner who helps run the business.
The proprietress of the inn welcomed us.
Literally 'female master/owner'. A straightforward term for a woman who owns a business, but can sound a bit formal or literary.
The proprietress of that shop is very kind.
Used for the female owner of a small bar, snack bar, or club. Very common in nightlife contexts. Can sound intimate or casual.
I enjoy talking with the proprietress of the snack bar.
Gender-neutral term for a shop owner. Can be used for a woman, but does not specify gender. Often used in formal or written contexts.
The proprietor is a woman who sells handmade accessories.
Referring to a woman who owns any type of business, not necessarily a shop or restaurant.
Standard term for a female business owner or manager. Suitable for formal and business contexts.
She is the proprietress of an IT company.
Female company president. Common in business settings, but can sometimes carry a nuance of 'female president' as a marked category.
Loanword 'owner'. Gender-neutral and widely used for any business owner. Often used for small businesses like cafés or boutiques.
Describing a woman who is not the legal owner but acts as the proprietress alongside her husband.
Affectionate or respectful term for the wife of a shop owner or the female manager. Very common in traditional settings.
The proprietress always serves customers with a smile.
Same as above, but slightly more formal. Can refer to the wife of the owner or the female owner herself.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'proprietress' in all contexts. Using 女主人 (おんなしゅじん) may sound old-fashioned or overly literal. Choose the term based on the type of business and relationship.
In many small shops or restaurants, regular customers may refer to the female owner by her name with さん, or simply as おかみさん. Using the person's name is often more natural than a generic title.
The proprietress of that company is famous.
このカフェのオーナーは女性です。
The proprietress of this café is a woman.
この店の女将は料理が上手だ。
The proprietress of this restaurant is a good cook.