1.
master; owner; head of household
The master or owner of a house, establishment, or domain. Carries a traditional, slightly formal or literary tone.
2.
host; one who entertains guests
The person who receives and entertains guests. Used in traditional or formal contexts.
A slightly literary or traditional word for 'master' or 'owner.' More formal and evocative than 主人, often used in storytelling, historical contexts, and descriptions of traditional settings.
Common collocations
- 城の主 — lord of a castle
- 店の主 — shop owner/proprietor
- 屋敷の主 — master of the mansion
- 宴の主 — host of a feast
- 主のいない — without its master/owner
Similar words
- 主人 — master; husband; proprietor (more common in everyday speech)
- 持ち主 — owner (of an object)
- 飼い主 — pet owner
- 家主 — landlord
Pronunciation
The kanji 主 has several readings: あるじ (master/host — this entry), ぬし (owner, often in compounds like 持ち主), and しゅ (on'yomi, in compounds like 主人).