Japanese word

長者

Pronunciation

Romajichōja

Meaning

  • nounmillionaire

Example

彼は若くして長者になりました。kare wa waka ku shi te chō ja ni na ri ma shi ta

He became a millionaire at a young age.

Illustration for 長者 (millionaire)

More examples

相続した財産を生かして長者になった人もいます。sō zoku shi ta zai san o i ka shi te chō ja ni na tta hito mo i ma su

Some people became millionaires by making good use of their inherited wealth.

Core concept

Refers to someone who possesses enough wealth to be regarded as exceptionally rich.

Common phrases

  • 長者になるchō ja ni na ru

    become a millionaire

  • 長者の仲間入りchō ja no naka ma i ri

    join the ranks of millionaires

  • 長者番付chō ja ban zuke

    millionaire rankings

Similar words

富豪fugō: A person who owns a very large amount of wealth and is regarded as exceptionally rich.
大金持ちōkanemochi: A person who has a great deal of money, expressed in a direct and conversational way.
金持ちkanemochi: A person who has substantial money or other financial assets.

Definition in Japanese

非常に多くの財産を持つ人。hi jō ni ō ku no zai san o mo tsu hito

Word origin

長者 (chōja) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 長 (chō, "long") and 者 (ja, "person"), and its Buddhist use for a wealthy merchant helped establish its meaning of a rich person.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 長者番付 (chōja banzuke) was the name for a former ranking of high taxpayers, so the word appears in a familiar expression about the wealthy.

Other meanings

  • rich personnoun

Opposites

  • 貧者hinjapoor personnoun

Word lists with this word