1.
the second-in-command of a sports team or similar group, who assists the captain and takes over when the captain is absent
Formed by attaching the prefix 副- (vice-, deputy-) to キャプテン (captain). Used mainly in sports teams — baseball, soccer, rugby, volleyball, and so on — as well as in school clubs and some student-government and youth-group contexts. The 副キャプテン is chosen to support the captain in leading the team and to step in as acting captain when the captain is absent or unable to play.
彼はサッカー部の副キャプテンだ。
He is the vice-captain of the soccer club.
今年から副キャプテンを務めることになった。
I have been made vice-captain starting this year.
キャプテンが欠場したので、副キャプテンがチームをまとめた。
Because the captain was out, the vice-captain held the team together.
彼女は三年生になってバスケットボール部の副キャプテンに選ばれ、後輩の面倒をよく見ている。
In her third year she was chosen as vice-captain of the basketball club, and she takes good care of the younger members.
Compound of the prefix 副- (vice-, deputy-, assistant-) + the loanword キャプテン (captain). The 副- prefix is attached to many role and title words to indicate a second-in-command position.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 副キャプテンを務める: to serve as vice-captain
- 副キャプテンに選ばれる: to be chosen as vice-captain
- 副キャプテンに任命する: to appoint as vice-captain
- チームの副キャプテン: the team's vice-captain
RELATED ROLE TERMS:
- キャプテン: captain (of a sports team or group)
- 主将: team captain — the traditional Sino-Japanese equivalent of キャプテン, common in written sports coverage.
- 副主将: vice-captain — the Sino-Japanese equivalent of 副キャプテン; used interchangeably in many contexts.
- 副部長: vice-president of a club (more administrative than team-oriented)
REGISTER:
Neutral. 副キャプテン is common in everyday conversation, school-club contexts, and the popular press, while 副主将 tends to appear in more formal sports reporting and official team rosters.
THE PREFIX 副-:
The same prefix yields a wide set of "vice-" or "deputy" titles:
- 副社長: vice president (of a company)
- 副会長: vice chairperson
- 副大統領: vice president (of a country)
- 副校長: vice principal