noun
general contractor; prime contractor; master contractor
Refers to the main contractor who takes overall responsibility for a construction project and hires subcontractors.
この工事の元請負人は大手建設会社です。
The general contractor for this construction project is a major construction company.
元請負人が下請け業者を管理する。
The prime contractor manages the subcontractors.
Subcontractor, as opposed to the main contractor.
Compound of 元 (moto, 'origin' or 'main') + 請負人 (ukeoinin, 'contractor').