親分

Japanese

Kanji in this term
おや
Grade: 2
ぶん
Grade: 2
yutōyomi

Pronunciation

Noun

(おや)(ぶん) • (oyabun

  1. boss; father figure
    Antonym: 子分 (kobun)
  2. a foster parent, a temporary adoptive parent
    Synonym: 仮親 (karioya)

Usage notes

This word is traditionally used by yakuza members to describe their boss or Godfather.

Synonyms

Descendants

  • Korean: 오야붕 (oyabung, oyabun)

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN