施主(せしゅ)

せしゅ
noun
owner (of a building project); host (of a Buddhist service); donor
formalbuildingreligion
1. owner (who commissions a building); client
The person who orders and pays for the construction of a house or other building, as seen from the builder's side.
施主(せしゅ)の希望(きぼう)を聞(き)く。
To listen to what the owner wants.
工務店(こうむてん)が施主(せしゅ)と打(う)ち合(あ)わせをした。
The builder had a meeting with the client.
施主(せしゅ)が工事(こうじ)の進(すす)み具合(ぐあい)を見(み)に、毎週(まいしゅう)現場(げんば)へ来(く)る。
The owner comes to the site every week to see how the work is going.
2. host (who arranges and pays for a funeral or memorial service); donor to a temple
The person who arranges and pays for a funeral or memorial service, or who makes an offering to a temple or priests.
父(ちち)が施主(せしゅ)を務(つと)めた。
My father acted as host of the service.
法事(ほうじ)の施主(せしゅ)は長男(ちょうなん)だ。
The eldest son is hosting the memorial service.
施主(せしゅ)として、集(あつ)まってくださった皆様(みなさま)にお礼(れい)の挨拶(あいさつ)をした。
As the host of the service, I gave a word of thanks to everyone who had come.

施(せ) (give, bestow) + 主(しゅ) (master). The word comes from Buddhism, where it named a person who gives alms; it was later extended to the person who pays for a building.

Similar words

  • 喪主(もしゅ): chief mourner at a funeral — the person who represents the family. At a funeral the 喪主(もしゅ) and 施主(せしゅ) are usually the same person; if not, the 施主(せしゅ) is the one who pays.
  • 発注者(はっちゅうしゃ): the party placing an order — business term for any contract, not only buildings
general
Added 2026.9.28 9:59 · Revised 2026.9.28 10:04
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