1.
landlord; landlady; property owner
The owner of a rental property — apartment, house, or building — who rents it out to tenants. The さん suffix adds a respectful, familiar tone.
大家さんに家賃を払う。
Pay rent to the landlord.
大家さんに修理を頼んだ。
I asked the landlord to make repairs.
うちの大家さんはとても親切で、引っ越しの時も手伝ってくれた。
Our landlord is very kind and even helped us when we moved in.
The word 大家 means landlord/property owner, and さん is the standard respectful suffix. In everyday conversation, 大家さん is far more common than the plain form 大家.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 大家さんに連絡する: to contact the landlord
- 大家さんの許可: the landlord's permission
- 大家さんに相談する: to consult with the landlord
- 大家さんが住んでいる: the landlord lives (on the premises)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 家主: landlord, property owner — more formal, used in legal and real estate contexts
- 貸主: lessor — legal/contractual term
- 管理人: building manager, superintendent — manages the property but may not own it
CAUTION:
Do not confuse with 大家 (master, authority in a field), which uses the same kanji but a different reading. 大家さん always refers to a landlord.