also: ちょうしゃ · ちょうざ
noun
Only with reading ちょうじゃ
Common modern meaning: a person of great wealth, often used in compounds like 億万長者 (billionaire).
彼は若くして長者になった。
He became a millionaire at a young age.
noun
one's superior; one's elder;
Refers to a person older or higher in status; somewhat formal or traditional in tone.
長者の意見には耳を傾けるべきだ。
You should listen to the opinions of your elders.
noun
virtuous and gentle person
Archaic meaning; a person of moral excellence and kindness, rarely used in modern Japanese outside historical or literary contexts.
古典文学では、長者は徳の高い人物として描かれる。
In classical literature, a 長者 is depicted as a person of high virtue.
noun
female brothel owner; post-town chief
Only with reading ちょうじゃ
Archaic, highly specific historical terms: sense 4 refers to a woman running a brothel in a post town; sense 5 refers to the chief of a post town. Both are obsolete and only encountered in historical texts.
江戸時代の宿場では、長者が旅籠や遊女屋を仕切っていた。
In Edo-period post towns, the 長者 managed inns and brothels.
Rare alternate reading; ちょうじゃ is overwhelmingly more common.
Composed of 長 (long, elder) and 者 (person). The original meaning of 'elder' or 'superior' extended to 'wealthy person' in common usage.