重役

じゅうやく

director, high executive

JLPT N2

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"重役" (じゅうやく) refers to a high-ranking executive or director within a company. It is commonly used in business contexts to describe people who hold significant decision-making power.

Common Contexts

You will often hear "重役" in phrases like "重役会議" (board of directors meeting) or when talking about promotions to executive positions. It implies a formal, high-status role.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 重役に昇進する: to be promoted to an executive position
  • 重役会議: board of directors meeting
  • 重役たち: the executives (plural)

Register and Nuance

This word is formal and used mainly in business or corporate settings. It is not used for lower-level managers or staff.

Learner Tips

Be careful not to confuse "重役" with "役員" (やくいん), which can mean any officer or executive but is broader. "重役" specifically highlights senior executives with more authority.

Example Sentences

かれはおおてきぎょうのじゅうやくにしょうしんした。

He was promoted to a director at a major company.

じゅうやくかいぎであたらしいプロジェクトについてはなしあった。

They discussed the new project at the board of directors meeting.

じゅうやくたちはかいしゃのしょうらいについてしんけんにかんがえている。

The executives are seriously thinking about the company's future.