also: しゅきゃく
host and guest
Refers to the relationship or roles of host and guest, often in formal or traditional contexts.
In the tea ceremony, the host-guest relationship is valued.
principal and auxiliary; primary and subordinate
Used in contexts like business, art, or analysis to distinguish main and supporting elements.
This painting has a good balance between the main subject and the background.
Philosophical or grammatical term for the distinction between subject and object. In grammar, it refers to the subject and object of a sentence.
The concept of subject and object is important in Western philosophy.
It is difficult to clearly distinguish subject and object in Japanese grammar.
reversing the order of importance; putting the cart before the horse; mistaking the means for the end
Standard kanji form. The reading しゅかく is the most common.
Alternate reading, less common. May be encountered in older or specialized texts.
Compound of 主 (host, master, subject) and 客 (guest, object). The reading しゅかく uses the kan-on reading for both characters, while しゅきゃく uses the kan-on for 主 and the go-on for 客.