noun
Refers to a person or business that undertakes work on a contract basis, especially in construction or other trades.
その請負師は新しい橋の建設を請け負った。
The contractor undertook the construction of the new bridge.
Compound of 請負 (ukeoi, 'contract') + 師 (shi, 'master, specialist'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word follows a common pattern for occupational titles.