領主（りょうしゅ、ryoushu）
- feudal lord

The Japanese word 領主 （りょうしゅ） refers to a feudal lord or a land owner, particularly in historical contexts. It signifies a person who possesses authority and control over a specific territory or domain. The 領主 would typically hold rights to the land and the people residing on it, collecting taxes, administering justice, and providing protection. It's often used when discussing historical periods like the feudal era in Japan.

⚫︎戦国時代の領主たちは、互いに領地を巡って争った。 Translation: The feudal lords of the Warring States period fought amongst themselves over territories. ⚫︎その村の領主は、厳しい税を課していた。 Translation: The feudal lord of that village imposed harsh taxes. ⚫︎彼は自分の土地の領主になった。 Translation: He became the lord of his own land.

This word is primarily used in historical discussions, literature, and sometimes in video games or other media that depict feudal societies. It is less common in everyday modern conversation, unless referring to a historical or fictional context. One might use 領主 when talking about Japanese history, such as the Edo period or earlier, or when discussing European feudalism.

⚫︎The word is written in kanji as 領主. ⚫︎The reading is りょうしゅ in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana is fixed.

⚫︎大名 (daimyo): A feudal lord, especially in Japan. (Specific to Japanese history) ⚫︎地主 (jinushi): Landowner (can be used in modern contexts) ⚫︎君主 (kunshu): Ruler, monarch ⚫︎支配者 (shihai-sha): Ruler, controller

⚫︎農民 (noumin): Farmer, peasant ⚫︎家臣 (kashin): Retainer, vassal ⚫︎庶民 (shomin): Common people

江戸時代の領主は、その地方の経済を支配していた。 ・Translation: The feudal lords of the Edo period controlled the economy of their regions. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 領主 to describe the role of feudal lords in the Edo period, emphasizing their economic power.

歴史の授業で、領主の役割について学んだ。 ・Translation: We learned about the role of feudal lords in history class. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the typical context in which the word 領主 is used - in discussions of history.

The word 領主 is a compound word. 領 (ryo) means "territory", "domain", or "to rule". 主 (shu) means "lord", "master", or "owner". Therefore, the combination signifies "lord of a territory" or "landowner".