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重役
jūyaku
executive director
彼女は大手企業の重役に就任した。
She took up a position as an executive director at a major company.
Business
formal
A high-ranking executive in a company or organization, often a member of the board of directors.
重役会議では重要な決定が下される。
Important decisions are made in the executive board meeting.
彼は社長の重役秘書として働いている。
He works as the executive director's private secretary.
Often used in corporate contexts to refer to top-level management.
Law
formal
A senior official in a government or public organization.
政府の重役は国民の信頼を得る責任がある。
Senior government officials bear the responsibility of earning the public's trust.
Less common than the business sense but still used in formal contexts.
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 役員 (yakuin)
While 役員 (officer/director) is a broader term that includes all board members, 重役 specifically refers to high-ranking executives or senior officials, often implying a more prominent or influential position.
Word Origin
From 重 (heavy, important) + 役 (role, duty). The compound conveys the sense of a person holding a significant, weighty role in an organization.
Usage Notes
重役 is a formal term typically used in written or spoken business Japanese. It often implies a position of considerable authority and responsibility. In modern usage, it can sometimes be used humorously or ironically to refer to someone who acts as if they hold a high position.
Word Breakdown
重
heavy, important
root役
role, duty
root和英辞典