Japanese word

家来

Pronunciation

Romajikerai

Meaning

  • nounretainer

Example

殿様には家来が三人います。tono sama ni wa ke rai ga san nin i ma su

The lord has three retainers.

Illustration for 家来 (retainer)

More examples

彼は若いころ、殿様の家来として働いていました。kare wa waka i ko ro tono sama no ke rai to shi te hatara i te i ma shi ta

When he was young, he worked as a lord's retainer.

Core concept

Describes someone attached to a powerful person's household who provides service and support under that person's authority.

Common phrases

  • 殿様の家来tono sama no ke rai

    a lord's retainer

  • 家来になるke rai ni na ru

    become a retainer

Similar words

家臣kashin: A person who serves a lord in an organized feudal relationship.
従者jūsha: A person who accompanies and assists a leader or other important person.
臣下shinka: A person who owes service and loyalty to a ruler or lord.

Definition in Japanese

権力者の家に属し、その人に仕えて働く者。ken ryoku sha no ie ni zoku shi so no hito ni tsuka e te hatara ku mono

Word origin

家来 (kerai) is an established spelling of the old Japanese word for a retainer; 家 (ke, "household") relates to the household, while 来 (rai, "come") represents the sound.

Usage tips

  • 家来 (kerai) is useful for historical or fictional settings, but calling a modern coworker a 家来 can sound humorous because the word suggests a lord-and-subordinate relationship.

Other meanings

  • followernoun

Word lists with this word