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張本人 (ちょうほんにん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
noun
originator ; ringleader ; main culprit ; person responsible
Refers to the person who started or is primarily responsible for an event, plan, or trouble. Often carries a negative connotation, like a troublemaker or mastermind, but can be neutral in context.
張ちょう
本ほん
人にん
は
誰だれ
です
か
。
Who is the originator of that plan?
Kanji 張 counter for bows & stringed instruments, stretch, spread Similar words 首しゅ 謀ぼう 者しゃ 首謀者 is more formal and specifically means 'ringleader' or 'mastermind' of a plot or crime, while 張本人 can be used more broadly for any instigator or person responsible.
犯はん 人にん 犯人 means 'criminal' or 'culprit' and is used strictly for illegal acts, whereas 張本人 can refer to the person behind any event, not necessarily criminal.
Etymology The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 張 (stretch, spread) and 本 (origin, book) combined with 人 (person) suggest a person who 'spreads' or 'initiates' something, but the historical origin is not clearly documented.
