首しゅ領りょう

しゅ

りょ

う

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

Refers to the top person in a group, organization, or gang. Often used for leaders of criminal or rebellious groups, but can apply to any head figure.

警けい察さつはついにそのギャングの首しゅ領りょうを逮たい捕ほした。
The police finally arrested the leader of the gang.
彼かれは反はん乱らん軍ぐんの首しゅ領りょうとして知しられている。
He is known as the chief of the rebel army.

See all 10 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉の首しゅ領りょうthe boss/leader of an organization or gang
彼かれはこの犯はん罪ざい組そ織しきの首しゅ領りょうだ。
He is the boss of this criminal organization.
首しゅ領りょうを逮たい捕ほするto arrest the boss/leader
警けい察さつは暴ぼう力りょく団だんの首しゅ領りょうを逮たい捕ほした。
The police arrested the leader of the gang.
首しゅ領りょうに従したがうto obey/follow the boss
部ぶ下かたちは首しゅ領りょうに忠ちゅう実じつに従したがった。
The underlings faithfully followed their boss.

Kanji

首neck, counter for songs and poems
領jurisdiction, dominion, territory
主lord, chief, master

Related words· 9

頭あたまN5
頭（かしら）is a colloquial term for a boss used in traditional or informal groups like craftsmen or gangs, while 首領 is a more formal word for the top leader of an organization.
ボス
ボス is a casual loanword for 'boss' usable for any workplace superior, whereas 首領 sounds more serious and often refers to the head of a criminal or rebellious group.
リーダーN3
リーダー is a neutral loanword for the leader of a team or project, while 首領 carries a heavier, often underworld-tinged nuance.
親おや分ぶん
親分 is an informal term for a boss with a paternalistic, yakuza-style nuance, while 首領 is a more formal, neutral term for the top leader of a group.

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頭とう目もく
頭目 and 首領 are close synonyms both meaning the chief of a gang or band, with 頭目 sounding slightly more old-fashioned or literary.
盟めい主しゅ
首領 refers to the head of a gang, faction, or organization and can sound sinister, whereas 盟主 is neutral and specific to alliances.
領りょう袖しゅう
首領 often carries a connotation of leading a gang or criminal group, while 領袖 is used more for political or organizational leadership.
ドン
首領 is a formal, often legal or journalistic term for the head of a criminal or rebel group, while ドン is a more colloquial, slang-like way to call the same kind of powerful figure.
総そう帥すい
首領 often carries a negative or criminal connotation (e.g. the boss of a gang), while 総帥 is neutral or even respectful, used for legitimate military or business leaders.

Opposites

部ぶ下かN2
部下 refers to a subordinate who takes orders, the opposite role in a hierarchy from the 首領 who gives them.

Don't confuse with

首しゅ謀ぼう者しゃ
首謀者 refers specifically to the person who plans or masterminds a crime or plot, while 首領 refers to the ongoing head or boss of a group regardless of any single scheme.

Counted with

人にん
counter for people

Written forms

首しゅ領りょうUsage95%
Standard kanji form; used in news and general writing.
主しゅ領りょうUsage5%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should prefer 首領.

Etymology

Composed of 首 (head, chief) and 領 (territory, control). The combination naturally yields the meaning of a person who leads or controls a group.