マスター

ますたー
noun; suru-verb
master; owner
1. owner; proprietor
The owner or manager of a bar, coffee shop, or small establishment.
バーマスター。
The bar owner.
To order a drink from the owner.
The owner of that shop is kind and popular with regular customers.
2. master (degree)
A master's degree in academic contexts.
マスター()
To get a master's degree.
I advanced to a master's program.
I am attending graduate school while working to obtain a master's degree in business administration.
3. to master
To achieve proficiency in a skill (as a verb: マスターする).
英語(えいご)マスターする。
To master English.
I mastered the new technique.
It's better to master the basics before moving on to applications.

マスター has several distinct uses in Japanese.

BAR/SHOP OWNER:

  • バーのマスター (bar owner/bartender)
  • 喫茶店(きっさてん)のマスター (coffee shop owner)
  • This is the most common everyday usage

ACADEMIC DEGREE:

  • マスター (Master's degree)
  • マスター課程(かてい) (Master's program)
  • 修士(しゅうし) is the formal Japanese term

VERB USAGE (to master):

  • 〜をマスターする (to master ~)
  • マスターしている (to have mastered)

Note: The female equivalent for shop owner is often ママ rather than マスター.