主
lord, chief, master, main thing, principal
Readings
On'yomi
- シュ
- ス
- シュウ
Kun'yomi
- ぬし
- おも
- あるじ
Nanori
- かず
- ず
- もん
Meaning
主 centers on the central or controlling figure: a lord, chief, or master, and by extension the main or principal thing.
Most common words using 主
24 of 1,197- 主おもN2
chief; main; principal; important
- 主しゅN2
(one's) master; (one's) employer; (one's) lord
- 主あるじN1
head (of a household); proprietor (of a store); proprietress; landlord; landlady; master (of a servant)
- 主ぬしN1
head (of a household, etc.); leader; master
- 主義しゅぎN3
doctrine; rule; principle; -ism
- 主張しゅちょうN3
claim; insistence; assertion; advocacy; emphasis; contention; opinion; tenet
- 主人公しゅじんこうN2
protagonist; main character; hero; heroine
- 民主みんしゅN1
democracy; popular sovereignty
- 主催しゅさいN1
sponsorship (i.e. conducting under one's auspices); promotion; organizing; organising; hosting; staging
- 民主党みんしゅとう
Democratic Party
- 主人しゅじんN4
head (of a household); proprietor (of a store); proprietress; landlord; landlady
- 主演しゅえんN1
starring (in a film, play, etc.); playing the leading part
- 主要しゅようN2
chief; main; principal; major
- 自主じしゅN1
independence; autonomy; self-reliance
- 主婦しゅふN3
housewife; mistress (of the house); homemaker
- 持ち主もちぬしN2
owner; proprietor; possessor (e.g. of talent, beauty, etc.)
- 主体しゅたいN1
main constituent; core; nucleus
- 主役しゅやくN2
leading part; leading actor; leading actress
- 主流しゅりゅう
(the) mainstream
- 株主かぶぬしN1
shareholder; stockholder
- 主導しゅどうN1
leadership; initiative; spearhead
- 飼い主かいぬしN2
(pet) owner; keeper
- 坊主ぼうずN1
Buddhist priest; bonze
- 主任しゅにんN1
person in charge; senior staff; manager; chief; head
Study
Etymology
主 originally depicted a lamp or torch with a flame above a stand, symbolizing the master of the house or the central figure. The modern form retains the dot above 王, though the historical connection to a lamp is not obvious from the current shape.
Meaning mnemonic
The dot above 王 looks like a crown or mark of authority over a king, making this the lord or master.
Reading mnemonic
For シュ, imagine a shoe placed on the master's throne: shoe -> シュ, and the master sits above all.