1.
main contractor; prime contractor
The company or person who receives a contract directly from the client and takes primary responsibility for a project. May subcontract portions of the work to other companies.
元請け会社に連絡する。
I'll contact the main contractor.
元請けから下請けに仕事が回される。
Work is passed from the main contractor to the subcontractor.
この工事では、大手ゼネコンが元請けを務めている。
A major general contractor is serving as the prime contractor for this construction project.
A compound of 元 (origin, source) and 請け (receiving, contracting). Refers to the company at the top of the contracting chain that receives work directly from the client. Central to understanding Japanese business structure, especially in construction and IT.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 元請け会社: main contracting company
- 元請け業者: prime contractor
- 元請けを務める: to serve as the main contractor
- 元請け責任: main contractor's responsibility
CONTRACTING HIERARCHY:
Japanese business often involves multi-layered contracting:
- 元請け: main contractor (receives from client)
- 下請け: subcontractor (receives from main contractor)
- 孫請け: sub-subcontractor (receives from subcontractor)
RELATED TERMS:
- 下請け: subcontractor — receives work from the 元請け
- 発注者: client, orderer — the party who hires the 元請け
- ゼネコン: general contractor — large construction company that often acts as 元請け