Japanese word

殿様

Pronunciation

Romajitonosama

Meaning

  • nounlord

Example

昔の殿様は大きな城に住んでいました。mukashi no tono sama wa ō ki na shiro ni su n de i ma shi ta

A lord in old Japan lived in a large castle.

Illustration for 殿様 (lord)

More examples

家臣たちは殿様の命令に従いました。ka shin ta chi wa tono sama no mei rei ni shitaga i ma shi ta

The retainers followed their lord's order.

Core concept

Refers to a feudal lord viewed through the formal respect owed to a person of high rank.

Common phrases

  • 殿様の命令tono sama no mei rei

    the lord's order

  • 殿様に仕えるtono sama ni tsuka e ru

    serve a lord

  • 殿様の許しtono sama no yuru shi

    the lord's permission

Similar words

大名daimyō: A feudal ruler who governed a large domain under the shogunate.
領主ryōshu: The person holding authority over a specific estate or region.
主君shukun: The lord to whom retainers owe loyalty and service.

Definition in Japanese

主君や領主など、身分の高い人物を敬って呼ぶ語。shu kun ya ryō shu na do mi bun no taka i jin butsu o uyama tte yo bu go

Word origin

殿様 (tonosama) combines 殿 (tono, "lord or palace") with 様 (sama, "manner or honorific suffix"), creating a strongly respectful title for a lord.

Usage tips

  • 殿様 (tonosama) belongs mainly to historical settings, so modern uses can sound theatrical or playful when describing a person as an old-style lord.

Other meanings

  • noblemannoun

Word lists with this word