Usage patterns 〈 場ば 所しょ 〉 の 主あるじ となる to become the master/head of a place
He became the master of this mansion.
〈 物もの 〉 の 主あるじ the owner/master of a thing (e.g. a shop, estate)
The proprietor of this shop comes from a long-established family line.
Expressions 一いっ 家か の 主あるじ master of the household; head of the family 一いっ 国こく 一いち 城じょう の 主あるじ head of a household; business owner; proudly independent person · feudal lord; daimyo Related words 主人 is the common modern word for 'husband' or 'master/owner', while 主 (あるじ ) is more archaic and used in traditional or literary contexts.
大家 specifically means the landlord of a rental property, whereas 主 (あるじ ) covers the broader idea of head of a household, shop, or estate.
Opposites 客 is the guest being entertained, the direct opposite of 主 (あるじ ) in its archaic sense of 'one who hosts or entertains a guest'.
従者 is a servant or retainer who follows and serves, standing in contrast to 主 (あるじ ), the master or head of a household.
Word family female owner; proprietress; landlady; female head of a household
male head of a household; male owner; landlord; proprietor; male employer
master of the priests' quarters
Written forms 主あるじ Usage 7%
Standard kanji form for the modern sense. High priority.
あるじ Usage 93%
主人あるじ
Rare kanji form for あるじ ; more commonly read しゅじん .
饗あるじ
rarely-used kanji form
Archaic kanji form associated with the entertaining/feast sense.
Etymology The derivation is uncertain. The kanji 主 is conventionally associated with the meaning 'master' or 'head'.
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