店長（てんちょう、tenchou）
- store manager

The word 店長 店長 (てんちょう) refers to the manager of a store or shop. This individual is typically responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the store, managing staff, handling customer issues, and ensuring the business runs smoothly. The role is a position of leadership and responsibility within a retail or service environment.

⚫︎山田さんは、この店の店長です。 Translation: Mr. Yamada is the manager of this store. ⚫︎店長に、何か相談がありますか？ Translation: Do you have something to discuss with the store manager? ⚫︎新しい店長は、とても親切です。 Translation: The new store manager is very kind.

You use 店長 when referring to or addressing the manager of a store. It's used in various contexts, such as: ⚫︎Asking for assistance. ⚫︎Making a complaint. ⚫︎Praising the store's operations. ⚫︎Identifying the person in charge. You can use it directly, like addressing someone: "店長, sumimasen..." (Manager, excuse me...). Or you can use it in a sentence to describe the role.

⚫︎The word 店長 is written with the kanji 店 (てん - store) and 長 (ちょう - head/chief/manager). ⚫︎It's generally written in kanji and hiragana (店長). ⚫︎There are no variations in the okurigana (the suffix hiragana).

⚫︎マネージャー (manejā) - Manager (loanword, more general) ⚫︎店主 (ten-shu) - Owner (often implies they are also the manager) ⚫︎オーナー (ōnā) - Owner (loanword)

⚫︎ There is no direct antonym, as it is a job title. ⚫︎ However, one could consider the opposite of being in charge to be "staff" or other employees: 従業員 (jūgyōin).

この問題は店長に相談してください。 ・Translation: Please consult with the store manager about this problem. ・Explanation: This sentence directs the speaker to seek the manager's assistance regarding a specific issue.

店長は、いつもお店をきれいにしています。 ・Translation: The store manager always keeps the store clean. ・Explanation: This sentence praises the manager's efforts in maintaining the store's cleanliness.

The word is formed by combining the kanji 店 (ten), meaning "store" or "shop", with the kanji 長 (chō), meaning "chief", "head", or "manager". Therefore, 店長 literally translates to "store manager" or "shop manager". The etymology directly reflects the role's function as the head of the store's operations.