親おや分ぶん

お

や

ぶ

ん

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Refers to the head of a group, especially in traditional or hierarchical contexts such as a crime syndicate, a band of craftsmen, or a close-knit team. Carries a paternalistic or patron-like nuance, contrasting with a purely organizational 'boss'.

彼かれは地じ元もとのヤクザの親おや分ぶんだ。
He is the boss of the local yakuza.
職しょく人にんたちは親おや分ぶんの指し示じを仰あおいだ。
The craftsmen looked to their master for instructions.

See all 21 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉の親おや分ぶんになるto become someone's boss/leader
彼かれはその街まちのやくざの親おや分ぶんになった。
He became the boss of the yakuza in that town.
〈人ひと〉を親おや分ぶんと仰あおぐto look up to someone as one's boss
若わかい職しょく人にんたちは彼かれを親おや分ぶんと仰あおいでいた。
The young craftsmen looked up to him as their boss.
親おや分ぶんに従したがうto follow/obey one's boss
子こ分ぶんたちは親おや分ぶんに従したがって動うごいた。
The underlings acted in accordance with their boss's orders.

Kanji

親parent, intimacy, relative
分part, minute of time, segment

Related words

ボス
ボス is a neutral, modern loanword for 'boss' used in any organization, while 親分 carries a traditional, paternalistic nuance often tied to gangs or craftsmen's guilds.
頭あたまN5
頭 is the classic term for the head of a group of craftsmen or firefighters, similar in feel to 親分 but with less of the crime-boss connotation.
首しゅ領りょう
首領 is a more formal, often negative term for the leader of a criminal or rebel group, whereas 親分 keeps a warmer, patron-like nuance.
大たい将しょう
親分 is used for the boss of a gang or close-knit group with a paternalistic feel, while 大将 is a broader, more casual term for any leader or chief.
組くみ長ちょう
親分 is a broader, more paternalistic term for a boss or leader in traditional groups, while 組長 specifically denotes the head of a 組 (clan or crew).

Opposites

子こ分ぶん
子分 is the follower who receives protection from a 親分, making the two words direct opposites in the same hierarchical relationship.
手て下した
親分 is the boss or leader of a group, the direct opposite of 手下, who is the follower taking orders.

Don't confuse with

親おや方かた
親方 refers to a master craftsman or supervisor who trains apprentices, while 親分 more often implies leadership of a gang or tightly bonded group with mutual loyalty.
おやじN1
親分 specifically means a gang leader or crime boss, whereas 親父 used for 'boss' just means an ordinary workplace superior, addressed informally.

Word family

親おや分ぶん株かぶ
position of boss; big-shot status
親おや分ぶん肌はだ
having the qualities of a leader; boss-like nature
親おや分ぶん風かぜ
bossy manner; acting like a boss
親おや分ぶん子こ分ぶん
boss and henchmen; boss and underlings

Built from

親おや+分ぶん

Etymology

Formed from 親, “parent,” and 分, “status or role,” in contrast with 子分. It denotes one occupying the parent-like position in a hierarchical relationship.