親方(おやかた)

おやかた
noun
master; boss; sumo stable master
occupationsports
1. master; boss (of craftsmen or laborers)
The head of a group of craftsmen, carpenters or laborers, who trains apprentices and directs the work. Also used as a form of address for such a person.
親方(おやかた)に叱(しか)られた。
I was told off by the master.
彼(かれ)は大工(だいく)の親方(おやかた)の下(もと)で修行(しゅぎょう)した。
He trained under a master carpenter.
親方(おやかた)、今日(きょう)の仕事(しごと)はここまででいいですか。
Boss, shall we stop work here for today?
2. sumo stable master
A retired wrestler who runs a sumo stable (部屋(へや)) and trains its wrestlers. Stable masters hold elder names in the Japan Sumo Association and are addressed as 親方(おやかた).
親方(おやかた)が弟子(でし)に稽古(けいこ)をつける。
The stable master coaches his wrestlers.
引退後(いんたいご)、彼(かれ)は親方(おやかた)として部屋(へや)を継(つ)いだ。
After retiring, he took over the stable as its master.
横綱(よこづな)の昇進(しょうしん)が決(き)まり、親方(おやかた)も涙(なみだ)を流(なが)して喜(よろこ)んだ。
When the wrestler's promotion to yokozuna was decided, his stable master wept for joy.

Usage

In both senses 親方(おやかた) is the head of a master-and-apprentice group, and the word carries the old sense of a parent-like figure (親(おや)) responsible for those below. In an ordinary company the head is a 上司(じょうし) or 社長(しゃちょう), not a 親方(おやかた).

Common expressions

  • 親方(おやかた)日(ひ)の丸(まる): complacency of a business or organization that relies on government backing and need not fear failure
  • 親方(おやかた)と弟子(でし): master and apprentice

Related words

Related Words

Related: 弟子(でし) (apprentice, disciple)
Related: 棟梁(とうりょう) (master carpenter)
Related: 部屋(へや) (sumo stable)
general
Added 2026.10.11 21:38 · Revised 2026.10.11 21:42
31500/31886_oyakata