部長

• Reading: ぶちょう
• Romaji: buchou
• Kanji breakdown: 部 (bu) — section, department; 長 (chou) — head, chief, long
• Pronunciation: /bɯ.tɕoː/

Meaning

Department head; division manager. A senior management position in a Japanese company.

A noun for one of the key management ranks in Japanese corporate hierarchy. The typical progression is 係長 → 課長 → 部長 → 取締役. A 部長 oversees an entire department (部) and manages multiple sections. Often used as a title when addressing someone directly.

Examples

1. 部長に報告書を出しました。 I submitted the report to the department head.
2. 田中部長は来週出張です。 Department Head Tanaka is on a business trip next week.
3. 部長になるまで十五年かかった。 It took fifteen years to become a department head.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, corporate hierarchy, business meetings

Tone: respectful

Origin & History

Compound of 部 (bu, section/department) and 長 (chou, head/chief). Literally the head of a department.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional