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親分 (おやぶん, oyabun) Japanese meaning: boss | Kotomora
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ヤクザ
の
親おや
分ぶん
だ
。
He is the boss of the local yakuza.
The craftsmen looked to their master for instructions.
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 の 親おや 分ぶん になる to become someone's boss/leader
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
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
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 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 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.
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.
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 子分 is the follower who receives protection from a 親分, making the two words direct opposites in the same hierarchical relationship.
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.
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 position of boss; big-shot status
having the qualities of a leader; boss-like nature
bossy manner; acting like a boss
boss and henchmen; boss and underlings
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.
