大将(たいしょう)

たいしょう
noun
general; commander; boss; chief
personoccupation
1. general; admiral; commander
A high-ranking military officer; the highest general or flag officer rank in the former Imperial Japanese Army and Navy and in many foreign armed forces. Japan's Self-Defense Forces use other rank names.
陸軍(りくぐん)大将(たいしょう)に昇進(しょうしん)した。
He was promoted to army general.
戦国時代(せんごくじだい)の大将(たいしょう)は先頭(せんとう)に立(た)って戦(たたか)った。
Commanders in the Warring States period fought at the front line.
有名(ゆうめい)な海軍(かいぐん)大将(たいしょう)の伝記(でんき)を読(よ)んでいる。
I'm reading a biography of a famous admiral.
2. leader; boss; chief; head
The leader or head of a group. Used informally and affectionately for someone who is the leader or central figure, including the owner of a small restaurant or bar.
大将(たいしょう)、ビールをもう一杯(いっぱい)。
Boss, one more beer please.
ガキ大将(たいしょう)がいつも遊(あそ)びを決(き)めていた。
The leader of the kids always decided what to play.
あの寿司屋(すしや)の大将(たいしょう)は腕(うで)がいい。
The chef at that sushi restaurant is skilled.

大将(たいしょう) has both a formal military sense and a casual everyday sense.

Usage

Sense 1 (military): the highest general officer rank, used of historical commanders and of foreign armed forces.

Sense 2 (informal):

  • Calling a sushi chef or small restaurant owner 大将(たいしょう) is common and shows friendly respect
  • ガキ大将(たいしょう): the dominant kid in a neighborhood group (the ringleader)

Watch out

Several words share the reading たいしょう:

general
Added 2026.3.24 19:06 · Revised 2026.10.19 10:00
19000/19140_taishou