課長

• Reading: かちょう
• Romaji: kachou
• Kanji breakdown: 課 (ka) — section, division, lesson; 長 (chou) — head, chief, long
• Pronunciation: /ka.tɕoː/

Meaning

Section manager; section chief. A mid-level management position in a Japanese company.

A noun for a management rank below 部長. A 課長 oversees a section (課) within a department and directly manages a team of workers. This position is often the first real management role in a Japanese company and is commonly used as a form of address.

Examples

1. 課長、この書類を確認してください。 Section Manager, please check this document.
2. 新しい課長はとても優しい人です。 The new section manager is a very kind person.
3. 課長に昇進したのは三十五歳の時でした。 I was promoted to section manager when I was thirty-five.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, corporate hierarchy, business communication

Tone: respectful

Origin & History

Compound of 課 (ka, section/division) and 長 (chou, head/chief). Literally the head of a section.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional