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長老 (ちょうろう, chourou) Japanese meaning: elder | Kotomora

長ちょう老ろう

ちょ

う

ろ

う

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

General term for an older, respected person in a community or group. Often used with honorifics like さん or 様.

村むらの長ちょう老ろうたちが集あつまって話はな

し

合あ

っ

た

。

The village elders gathered and discussed.

彼かれは業ぎょう界かいの長ちょう老ろうとして尊そん敬けいされている。

He is respected as an elder of the industry.

2

senior monk

Specifically refers to a high-ranking, experienced monk in a Buddhist temple.

その寺てらの長ちょう老ろうはとても穏おだやかな方かただ。
The senior monk of that temple is a very gentle person.

3

dean; presbyter; patriarch

Used in Christian contexts for church officials (presbyter, dean) or patriarchs. Also used for a senior figure in some organizations.

彼かれは教きょう会かいの長ちょう老ろうとして長なが年ねん奉ほう仕ししてきた。
He has served as a church elder for many years.

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉の長ちょう老ろうthe elder of a place (village, temple, community)
村むらの長ちょう老ろうに相そう談だんした。
I consulted the village elder.
長ちょう老ろうを務つとめるto serve as an elder/senior figure
彼かれは教きょう会かいの長ちょう老ろうを務つとめている。
He serves as an elder of the church.
長ちょう老ろうとして〈動どう詞し〉to act/speak as an elder
長ちょう老ろうとして村むらの争あらそいを仲ちゅう裁さいした。
As the village elder, he mediated the dispute.

Kanji

長long, leader, superior
老old man, old age, grow old

Related words

年ねん長ちょう者しゃ sense 1
年長者 just means someone older in age, while 長老 adds the sense of a respected leader within a community or religious group.
高こう僧そう sense 2
高僧 is a general term for a high-ranking, virtuous Buddhist monk, while 長老 specifically denotes the senior monk who leads or advises a temple.
先せん輩ぱいN4sense 1
先輩 refers to someone senior in experience at school or work, whereas 長老 refers to an elder with communal or religious authority, not just workplace seniority.
古こ老ろう sense 1
古老 emphasizes an elderly person who is a repository of traditional knowledge, while 長老 emphasizes a leadership or advisory role in a group.
元げん老ろう
長老 is a broader term for an elder or senior figure in a community, village, or religious context, while 元老 emphasizes political or institutional veteran status.

Don't confuse with

家か老ろう sense 1
家老 was a senior retainer who administered a feudal lord's domain, while 長老 is a respected elder or senior religious figure in a community, temple, or church.

Counted with

名めいN2
「名」is a polite, formal way to count people, including elders like 長老.

Word family

長ちょう老ろう制せい
gerontocracy
長ちょう老ろう政せい治じ
gerontocracy
長ちょう老ろう教きょう会かい
Presbyterian Church

Etymology

Compound of 長 (chō, 'long, senior') and 老 (rō, 'old person'). The combination has been used historically to refer to respected older leaders in communities and religious orders.