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立役者 (tateyakusha) Japanese meaning: leading actor | Kotomora

立たて役やく者しゃ

た

て

や

く

しゃ

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

leading actor; star

Originally a kabuki term for the main actor; now used broadly for the star or lead in any performance.

彼かれはその舞ぶ台たいの立たて役やく者しゃとして

大だい

成せい

功こう

を

収おさ

め

た

。

He achieved great success as the leading actor in that play.

2

leading figure; central figure; key person

Figurative extension: a person who plays the most important role in a project, organization, or event.

彼かの女じょは会かい社しゃの再さい建けんの立たて役やく者しゃだ。
She is the key figure in the company's reconstruction.

Kanji

立stand up, rise, set up
役duty, war, campaign
者someone, person

Related words

主しゅ役やく
主役 is the standard word for 'leading role' or 'protagonist' in a story or play, while 立役者 carries a nuance of being the driving force or star performer.
中ちゅう心しん人じん物ぶつ
中心人物 is a more neutral term for 'central figure', whereas 立役者 emphasizes active, leading contribution.

Built from

立たて役やく+者しゃ

Written forms

立たて役やく者しゃ
Standard kanji spelling.
立たて役やく者しゃ
Variant spelling with okurigana.

Etymology

Originally a kabuki term derived from 立役, the principal male role, and 者, “person.” It subsequently broadened from a leading actor to any central or indispensable figure.