船頭(せんどう)

せんどう
noun
boatman, ferryman
occupation
1. boatman, ferryman, helmsman
A person who steers or rows a small boat, especially a traditional Japanese boat. Historically refers to ferrymen, river guides, and those who navigate small craft.
船頭(せんどう)が櫓(ろ)を漕(こ)いでいる。
The boatman is rowing the oar.
渡(わた)し船(ぶね)の船頭(せんどう)に案内(あんない)してもらった。
We were guided by the ferryman of the boat.
船頭(せんどう)多(おお)くして船(ふね)山(やま)に登(のぼ)るということわざの通(とお)り、リーダーが多(おお)すぎると物事(ものごと)はうまくいかない。
As the proverb 'too many boatmen and the ship climbs the mountain' says, too many leaders make things go wrong.

Usage

Appears frequently in historical contexts and traditional imagery. Also well known from the proverb 船頭(せんどう)多(おお)くして船(ふね)山(やま)に登(のぼ)る ('too many boatmen and the ship climbs the mountain'), equivalent to the English 'too many cooks spoil the broth'.

Common collocations

  • 船頭(せんどう)が漕(こ)ぐ: the boatman rows
  • 渡(わた)し船(ぶね)の船頭(せんどう): ferryman

Proverb

Related Words

Homophone: 先導(せんどう) (guidance)
general
Added 2026.2.27 17:33 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13986_sendou