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宰相 (saishou) Japanese meaning: prime minister | Kotomora
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He assumed the office of prime minister at a young age.
I am researching 19th-century British prime ministers.
Kanji 宰 superintend, manager, rule 相 inter-, mutual, together Related words 首相 is the standard, everyday word for 'prime minister' in modern Japanese news, while 宰相 has a more formal, literary, or historical tone.
総理大臣 is the full official Japanese government title for the prime minister, whereas 宰相 is a literary or historical way of referring to the office.
総理 is a common colloquial shortening of 総理大臣 used in everyday speech, while 宰相 sounds more formal or old-fashioned.
Don't confuse with 大統領 refers to a president, the head of state in a presidential system, while 宰相 refers to a prime minister, the head of government under a parliamentary or cabinet system.
大臣 is a general term for a cabinet minister, while 宰相 specifically means the head of that cabinet, the prime minister.
Etymology From Chinese 宰相 (zǎixiàng), historically referring to a chancellor or grand councilor in imperial China. Adopted into Japanese with the same kanji and a similar high-level governmental meaning.
