Meaning

Primary

Boss

Alternative

Leader

Word Type

noun

Explanation

Who plays a parent part to you? Your boss or your leader!

親分 is an informal and sort of old-fashioned word for someone who's in charge of close-knit groups, like in gangs or traditional trades such as carpentry and fishing. The 親分 is like a parent figure who takes care of the other members.

Reading

おやぶん
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This word consists of the kun'yomi reading for and the on'yomi reading for . You've learned both of these so you should be able to read this already!

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • ギャングの親分

    gang boss

    やくざの親分

    yakuza boss

    スリの親分

    pickpocketing kingpin

Context Sentences

地下道でヤクザの親分とすれちがったんだ。

I walked by a yakuza kingpin in the underpass.

トムとジェリーは、どちらが親分でどちらが子分ですか。

Between Tom and Jerry, which is the boss and which is the henchman?

親分にバレたら大目玉を食らうぞ。

The chief will chew us out if we let it slip.

Kanji Composition