女主人(おんなしゅじん)

Used when specifically identifying the owner or head of an establishment or household as a woman. Common in literary contexts and when describing traditional Japanese businesses like 旅館(りょかん) (Japanese inns) or 料亭(りょうてい) (high-end Japanese restaurants).

Common collocations

• 旅館(りょかん)の女主人(おんなしゅじん): the female proprietor of an inn
• 店(みせ)の女主人(おんなしゅじん): the female shop owner
• 女主人(おんなしゅじん)が切(き)り盛(も)りする: for the female proprietor to run (a business)

Similar words

• 女将(おかみ): proprietress of a traditional inn or restaurant — more specific to the hospitality industry and carries connotations of traditional Japanese service
• 主人(しゅじん): master, proprietor — typically refers to a male owner or husband
• 亭主(ていしゅ): husband, master of the house — informal, can also mean male innkeeper