代表取締役

• Reading: だいひょうとりしまりやく
• Romaji: daihyoutorishimariyaku
• Kanji breakdown: 代 (dai) — represent, substitute; 表 (hyou) — surface, express; 取 (tori) — take; 締 (shime) — tighten; 役 (yaku) — role, duty
• Pronunciation: /daː.çoː.to.ɾi.ɕi.ma.ɾi.ja.kɯ/

Meaning

Representative director; managing director. The person legally authorised to represent a company externally.

A compound noun used in corporate law. The 代表取締役 is chosen by the board of directors (取締役会) and holds the legal authority to act on behalf of the company. This role is distinct from 社長 (president) — a company may have multiple 代表取締役, and the 社長 title is an internal designation without legal standing. The full formal title is often 代表取締役社長.

Examples

1. 彼は創業者であり代表取締役でもある。 He is both the founder and the representative director.
2. 代表取締役の交代が株主総会で承認された。 The change of representative director was approved at the shareholders' meeting.
3. 代表取締役は会社を代表して契約を締結できる。 The representative director has the authority to sign contracts on behalf of the company.

Usage Guide

Context: corporate law, business, governance

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 代表 (daihyou, representative) + 取締役 (torishimariyaku, director). The person who 'represents' among the 'directors who manage affairs.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional