1.
homeroom teacher; class teacher
The teacher assigned to a particular class in a Japanese school who is responsible not only for teaching but also for students' overall wellbeing, guidance, and administrative matters.
担任の先生は優しい。
Our homeroom teacher is kind.
今年の担任は数学の田中先生だ。
This year's homeroom teacher is Mr. Tanaka, the math teacher.
担任が変わって生徒たちは少し不安そうだった。
The students seemed a bit anxious when their homeroom teacher changed.
新しいクラスの担任を引き受けた。
I took on the role of homeroom teacher for the new class.
2.
person in charge; person responsible
More broadly, a person assigned responsibility for a particular task, role, or group.
彼がこのプロジェクトの担任です。
He is the person in charge of this project.
営業部門の担任として報告いたします。
I will report as the person responsible for the sales division.
USAGE:
In everyday conversation, 担任 almost always refers to a homeroom teacher. The phrase 担任の先生 is redundant but very common. The broader sense of "person in charge" is more formal and less frequent.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 担任の先生 (homeroom teacher)
- 担任を持つ (to be a homeroom teacher for a class)
- 担任を受け持つ (to take charge of a class)
- 学級担任 (class teacher)
- 副担任 (assistant homeroom teacher)
CULTURE:
In Japanese schools, the 担任 plays a much broader role than a Western homeroom teacher. They handle parent communication, discipline, career guidance, and sometimes even visit students' homes (家庭訪問).