Japanese word

地主

Pronunciation

Romajijinushi

Meaning

  • nounlandowner

Example

あの地主は広い畑を持っています。a no ji nushi wa hiro i hatake o mo tte i ma su

That landowner has a large field.

Illustration for 地主 (landowner)

More examples

新しい地主は、畑の水路を整備しています。atara shi i ji nushi wa hatake no sui ro o sei bi shi te i ma su

The new landowner is improving the irrigation channel in the field.

Core concept

Describes someone who holds a piece of land as property, whether or not they manage it directly.

Common phrases

  • 地主から土地を借りるji nushi ka ra to chi o ka ri ru

    rent land from the landowner

  • 地主に土地を返すji nushi ni to chi o kae su

    return the land to the landowner

  • 地主の畑ji nushi no hatake

    the landowner's field

Similar words

土地所有者tochishoyūsha: A person or organization recognized in legal records as owning a parcel of land.
土地持ちtochimochi: A person who owns land, with an informal tone that can suggest considerable holdings.

Definition in Japanese

土地を所有している人。to chi o sho yū shi te i ru hito

Word origin

地主 (jinushi) is formed from 地 (ji, "land") and 主 (nushi, "owner or master"), giving the compound its literal sense of a land owner.

Usage tips

  • A landowner may own farmland, forests, or undeveloped land, so the word does not by itself indicate that the person lives on or works the land.

Other meanings

  • landlordnoun

Opposites

  • 借地人shakuchinintenantnoun
  • 小作人kosakunintenant farmernoun

Word lists with this word