主演（しゅえん、shuen）
- starring role

The Japanese word 主演 (しゅえん - shuen) primarily means "leading role," "starring," or "main performance." It refers to the person who plays the most important role in a film, play, television drama, or any other type of performance. The word emphasizes the central or principal actor or actress. It can also refer to the act of starring in a performance. The character [主演] itself is the key performer of the work.

⚫︎ 映画の主演は誰ですか？ Translation: Who is the leading actor/actress in the movie? ⚫︎ 彼女はドラマで主演を務めた。 Translation: She starred in the drama. ⚫︎ 彼は次回の舞台で主演する予定です。 Translation: He is scheduled to star in the next play.

This word is commonly used when discussing films, plays, dramas, or any performance where a central performer is important. It is used to identify the [主演] actor or actress, or to talk about someone [主演] in a certain role. The word is appropriate in both formal and informal settings. You can use this word when talking about the role itself, or about the person who plays that role.

主演 is written with the kanji 主 (しゅ - shu, meaning "main" or "principal") and 演 (えん - en, meaning "performance" or "to act"). The word is usually written in kanji, but it’s read using hiragana for pronunciation. There are no variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎ 主役 (しゅやく - shuyaku) - "leading role" (can be used interchangeably in many cases). ⚫︎ 主演者 (しゅえんしゃ - shuen-sha) - "star," "leading actor/actress" (emphasizes the person).

⚫︎ 脇役 (わきやく - wakiyaku) - "supporting role," "minor role." ⚫︎ 端役 (はやく - hayaku) - "bit part," "small role."

山田さんは、その映画で主演を立派に務めた。 ・Translation: Mr. Yamada played the [leading role] admirably in that movie. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates how 主演 is used to describe the primary role and highlights the actor's performance.

このドラマの主演は、若手俳優の佐藤さんです。 ・Translation: The [star] of this drama is a young actor, Mr. Sato. ・Explanation: This example explains who is playing the [主演] role in the particular drama.

The word 主演 is a compound word formed from the kanji 主, meaning "main" or "principal," and 演, meaning "to perform" or "performance." Therefore, the combination naturally implies "main performance," or "starring."