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組長 (くみちょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Meanings 1
noun
boss (esp. yakuza) ; foreman
Refers to the head of a group (組). In organized crime contexts, it specifically means a yakuza clan boss. In ordinary workplaces, it can mean a foreman or team leader, though 班長 or リーダー may be more common in some settings.
くみ
長ちょう
が
作さ
業ぎょう
を
指し
示じ
し
た
。
The foreman at the construction site gave instructions.
Kanji 組 association, braid, plait Similar words 親おや 分ぶん 親分 is a more general term for a boss or leader in traditional hierarchical groups, including yakuza, but carries a paternalistic nuance. 組長 is more specific to the head of a 組 (group/clan).
班はん 長ちょう 班長 is a common term for a squad leader or team leader in non-criminal contexts like schools, clubs, or companies. 組長 can overlap but is more strongly associated with yakuza or construction crews.
Etymology Compound of 組 (くみ, 'group, gang') and 長 (ちょう, 'head, chief'). The reading is standard on'yomi for both characters.
