親分(おやぶん)

おやぶん
noun
boss; leader; chief
1. boss; leader; chief
The head of a group, especially in hierarchical organizations like yakuza, gangs, or traditional trades. Also used casually to describe someone who acts as the leader of a group.
親分(おやぶん)の命令(めいれい)は絶対(ぜったい)だ。
The boss's orders are absolute.
彼(かれ)はグループの親分(おやぶん)的(てき)存在(そんざい)だ。
He's the boss-like figure of the group.
親分(おやぶん)子分(こぶん)の関係(かんけい)は日本(にほん)の社会(しゃかい)に深(ふか)く根付(ねづ)いている。
The boss-subordinate relationship is deeply rooted in Japanese society.

USAGE:
Originally from the yakuza and traditional hierarchical organizations, but also used loosely for anyone who acts as a group leader. The counterpart is 子分(こぶん) (subordinate, follower). The 親分(おやぶん)子分(こぶん) relationship mirrors the parent-child dynamic (親(おや) means parent).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 親分(おやぶん)子分(こぶん) (boss and subordinate)
  • 親分(おやぶん)肌(はだ) (boss-like temperament)
  • 親分(おやぶん)面(づら) (acting like the boss)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • ボス: boss — loanword, used in both criminal and corporate contexts
  • 頭領(とうりょう): leader, chief — more formal and historical
general
Added 2026.3.15 13:30
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