1.
director; executive; high-ranking company officer
A person who holds an important position in a company, typically a member of the board of directors. Includes positions such as president, vice president, and directors.
重役会議が開かれた。
A board meeting was held.
彼は大手企業の重役を務めている。
He serves as an executive at a major corporation.
重役出勤で午後からしか来ない人もいる。
Some people come in only in the afternoon, arriving late like an executive.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 重役会議 (board meeting)
- 重役を務める (to serve as a director)
- 重役出勤 (arriving late for work, lit. "executive arrival")
- 重役室 (executive office)
USAGE NOTE:
The humorous expression 重役出勤 literally means "arriving to work like a company executive" (who can come in late), and is used jokingly to describe someone who shows up to work late. This is one of the most recognizable uses of the word in everyday conversation.