家督

• 読み: かとく
• ローマ字: katoku
• 漢字の分解: 家 (ka/ie) — house, family; 督 (toku) — supervise, oversee, headship
• 発音: /ka.to.kɯ/

意味

Family headship; the right and responsibility of succession to a family's estate, name, and assets, formerly held by the eldest son under Japanese law.

Composed of 家 (house/family) and 督 (supervision/headship). Under the pre-war Meiji Civil Code's 家制度 (ie system), the 家督 was the formal legal status of the household head, who inherited all family property and held authority over family members. This system was abolished after World War II. Today the term is used mainly in historical, literary, or traditional business contexts, and informally to mean 'succession to the family business.'

例文

1. 明治時代の民法では、長男が家督を相続し、家の財産と権威を引き継ぐ慣行があった。
2. 父の急逝により、まだ若かった彼が家督を継ぐことになり、一家を支える立場に立った。
3. 老舗旅館の家督争いが、親族間の深刻な対立を生む原因となった。

使い方ガイド

場面: family, society, tradition, law, history, business

トーン: formal

起源と歴史

家 (ka/ie, house/family) + 督 (toku, supervision/headship/overseeing). The character 督 suggests overseeing and directing, reflecting the household head's traditional role. Formally used in the Meiji Civil Code as a legal term.

文化的背景

時代: Meiji–Showa

世代: Older adults

社会的背景: Traditional families