主

See also: 王, 玉, 生, and 丰

主	U+4E3B, 主 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E3B

← 为
[U+4E3A]

CJK Unified Ideographs

丼 →
[U+4E3C]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order (Japan)

Stroke order

Han character

主 (Kangxi radical 3, 丶+4, 5 strokes, cangjie input 卜土 (YG), four-corner 0010₄, composition ⿱丶王 or ⿱亠土)

Derived characters

住, 𠰍, 𡊲, 妵, 往, 拄, 注, 㹥, 迬, 柱, 炷, 𤖸, 砫, 紸 (𰬇), 蛀, 註, 䝬, 跓, 軴, 鉒 (𰽯), 䪒, 飳, 駐 (驻), 黈, 𪐴, 殶
𰀩, 𠣕, 𦭦, 宔, 疰, 罜, 䇠, 麈, 𮏼, 𮢔, 𮢉

References

Kangxi Dictionary: page 80, character 20
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 100
Dae Jaweon: page 163, character 1
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 44, character 3
Unihan data for U+4E3B

Chinese

simp. and trad.		主
alternative forms		丶宔

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 主
Shang	Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script

Oracle bone script j12540 j12541 j12542 j12543 j12544 j12545 j12546 Small seal script s03652
References: Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including: Shuowen Jiezi (small seal), Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions), Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Characters in the same phonetic series (主) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
飳	*tʰoːʔ
妵	*tʰoːʔ
黈	*tʰoːʔ
蘣	*tʰoːʔ
罜	doːɡ, tjos
拄	*toʔ
柱	toʔ, doʔ
駐	*tos
註	tos, tjos
鉒	*tos
軴	*tos
住	tos, dos
跓	*doʔ
嵀	*doʔ
主	*tjoʔ
麈	*tjoʔ
宔	*tjoʔ
炷	tjoʔ, tjos
注	*tjos
疰	*tjos
蛀	*tjos
霔	*tjos

Pictogram (象形) . Three distinct forms can observed in ancient scripts, all of which have merged into the same character in modern script:

A lamp or torch with a flame at the top. Original form of 炷.
Wood (木, now 王) on fire.
A spirit tablet. Same character as 示.

Etymology

Unclear. Compare Tibetan ཇོ་བོ (jo bo, “elder brother, nobleman, lord”), Tibetan ཇོ་མོ (jo mo, “mistress, lady, goddess”), Tibetan ཐུ། (thu, “chief”), Proto-Monic *(d)ndooʔ (“to teach, to instruct; headman”), and Thai โจก (jòok, “leader, chief”) (Schuessler, 2007)

Also compare Burmese အတို့ (a.tui., “honorific personal pronoun”).

Pronunciation 1

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): zhǔ (zhu³)

(Zhuyin): ㄓㄨˇ

(Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): zu³

(Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): җў (žw, II)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): zyu²

(Taishan, Wiktionary): zi²
Gan (Wiktionary): jy³
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): chú

(Meixian, Guangdong): zu³
Jin (Wiktionary): zu²
Northern Min (KCR): cṳ̌
Eastern Min (BUC): ciō / cṳ̄
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): chú / chí

(Teochew, Peng'im): zu²
Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁵tsy
Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): jy³

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: zhǔ
  - Zhuyin: ㄓㄨˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: jhǔ
  - Wade–Giles: chu³
  - Yale: jǔ
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: juu
  - Palladius: чжу (čžu)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴/
- (Standard Chinese, erhua-ed) (主兒／主儿)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: zhǔr
  - Zhuyin: ㄓㄨˇㄦ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: jhǔr
  - Wade–Giles: chu³-ʼrh
  - Yale: jǔr
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: juul
  - Palladius: чжур (čžur)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂuɻʷ²¹⁴/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: zu³
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: zu
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡su⁵³/
- (Dungan)
  - Cyrillic and Wiktionary: җў (žw, II)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/
  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
  - Jyutping: zyu²
  - Yale: jyú
  - Cantonese Pinyin: dzy²
  - Guangdong Romanization: ju²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡syː³⁵/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: zi²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡si⁵⁵/
Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: jy³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕy²¹³/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chú
  - Hakka Romanization System: zu^ˋ
  - Hagfa Pinyim: zu³
  - Sinological IPA: /t͡su³¹/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: zu³
  - Sinological IPA: /t͡su³¹/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: zu²
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡su⁵³/
Northern Min
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: cṳ̌
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sy²¹/
Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: ciō / cṳ̄
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡suo³³/, /t͡sy³³/
Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chú
  - Tâi-lô: tsú
  - Phofsit Daibuun: zuo
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei): /t͡su⁵³/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡su⁴¹/
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /t͡su⁵⁵⁴/
- (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chí
  - Tâi-lô: tsí
  - Phofsit Daibuun: cie
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡si⁵³/
- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: zu²
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsú
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡su⁵²/
Wu
- (Northern: Shanghai)
  - Wugniu: ⁵tsy
  - MiniDict: tsy^去
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ²tsr
  - Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡sz̩³⁴/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: jy³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕy⁴¹/

Middle Chinese: tsyuX

Rime
Character	主
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	章 (23)
Final (韻)	虞 (24)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Closed
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	之庾切
Baxter	tsyuX
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/t͡ɕɨo^X/
Pan Wuyun	/t͡ɕio^X/
Shao Rongfen	/t͡ɕio^X/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/cuə̆^X/
Li Rong	/t͡ɕio^X/
Wang Li	/t͡ɕĭu^X/
Bernard Karlgren	/t͡ɕi̯u^X/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	zhǔ
Expected Cantonese Reflex	zyu²

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*toʔ/

(Zhengzhang): /*tjoʔ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	主
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	zhǔ
Middle Chinese	‹ tsyu^X ›
Old Chinese	/*toʔ/
English	master; host
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	主
Reading #	1/1
No.	17618
Phonetic component	主
Rime group	侯
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	主
Old Chinese	/*tjoʔ/

Definitions

主

owner; master
host
(archaic, honorific) you (honorific second-person pronoun addressing a "senior official" [大夫] or his spouse)
- 季康子問于共父文伯之母曰：「主亦有以語肥也。」對曰：「吾能老而已，何以語子。」康子曰：「雖然，肥愿有聞于主。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  季康子问于共父文伯之母曰：「主亦有以语肥也。」对曰：「吾能老而已，何以语子。」康子曰：「虽然，肥愿有闻于主。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: Guoyu, circa 4^th century BCE
  Jì Kāngzǐ wèn yú Gōngfǔ Wénbó zhī mǔ yuē: “Zhǔ yì yǒu yǐ yù Féi yě.” Duìyuē: “Wú néng lǎo éryǐ, héyǐ yù zǐ.” Kāngzǐ yuē: “Suīrán, Féi yuàn yǒu wén yú zhǔ.” [Pinyin]
  Ji Kangzi (Fei) consulted the mother of Gongfu Wenbo: "Would you, madame, have something to instruct me?" "I am only good at growing old. What else can I tell you?" came her reply. "Nevertheless, I, Fei, do want to hear something from you," said Kangzi.
(Christianity, Islam) Lord
emperor
(colloquial, derogatory) person of a specified type
agent; agency
主動／主动 ― zhǔdòng ― active

主體／主体 ― zhǔtǐ ― subject (one who possesses agency)
- 夫民，神之主也。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
  From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE
  Fú mín, shén zhī zhǔ yě. [Pinyin]
  The people are the agent of divine spirits.
party; entity
事主 ― shìzhǔ ― party (in a dispute, especially the one bringing forth the dispute)
main; primary; principal; major
主要 ― zhǔyào ― main

主演 ― zhǔyǎn ― leading actor

主修 ― zhǔxiū ― major curriculum
to be in charge; to lead; to command
主事 ― zhǔshì ― to be in charge
- 太尉絳侯勃不得入軍中主兵。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  太尉绛侯勃不得入军中主兵。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
  Tàiwèi Jiànghóu Bó bùdé rù jūnzhōng zhǔ bīng. [Pinyin]
  Grand Marshal Bo the Marquis of Jiang was unable to join with the armies and lead the action.
to indicate; to signify
(grammar) Short for 主語／主语 (zhǔyǔ).
(historical) Short for 公主 (gōngzhǔ).
a surname

Compounds

世主 (shìzhǔ)
主上 (zhǔshàng)
主事 (zhǔshì)
主人 (zhǔrén)
主任 (zhǔrèn)
主佛
主位 (zhǔwèi)
主使 (zhǔshǐ)
主依
主修 (zhǔxiū)
主傅
主僕／主仆 (zhǔpú)
主兒／主儿 (zhǔr)
主公 (zhǔgōng)
主刀 (zhǔdāo)
主刑 (zhǔxíng)
主力 (zhǔlì)
主動／主动 (zhǔdòng)
主動脈／主动脉 (zhǔdòngmài)
主名
主唱 (zhǔchàng)
主單位／主单位
主器
主因 (zhǔyīn)
主坐
主場／主场 (zhǔchǎng)
主委 (zhǔwěi)
主婚
主婦／主妇 (zhǔfù)
主嫌 (zhǔxián)
主子 (zhǔzi)
主客 (zhǔkè)
主家
主宰 (zhǔzǎi)
主審／主审 (zhǔshěn)
主將／主将 (zhǔjiàng)
主導／主导 (zhǔdǎo)
主峰 (zhǔfēng)
主帥／主帅 (zhǔshuài)
主席 (zhǔxí)
主幣／主币 (zhǔbì)
主幹／主干 (zhǔgàn)
主座
主廚／主厨 (zhǔchú)
主張／主张 (zhǔzhāng)
主從／主从 (zhǔcóng)
主意
主戰／主战 (zhǔzhàn)
主持 (zhǔchí)
主持人 (zhǔchírén)
主控
主掌 (zhǔzhǎng)
主播 (zhǔbō)
主攻 (zhǔgōng)
主政
主教
主文
主日 (zhǔrì)
主旨 (zhǔzhǐ)
主星
主板 (zhǔbǎn)
主格 (zhǔgé)
主根 (zhǔgēn)
主機／主机 (zhǔjī)
主權／主权 (zhǔquán)
主次 (zhǔcì)
主歌 (zhǔgē)
主母
主治 (zhǔzhì)
主法
主流 (zhǔliú)
主演 (zhǔyǎn)
主焦點／主焦点
主父
主犯 (zhǔfàn)
主盟
主監／主监
主祭 (zhǔjì)
主稿
主筆／主笔 (zhǔbǐ)
主管 (zhǔguǎn)
主簿 (zhǔbù)
主編／主编 (zhǔbiān)
主線／主线 (zhǔxiàn)
主罰／主罚
主義／主义 (zhǔyì)
主翁
主考 (zhǔkǎo)
主脈／主脉
主腰 (zhǔyāo)
主腦／主脑 (zhǔnǎo)
主臣
主菜 (zhǔcài)
主要 (zhǔyào)
主見／主见 (zhǔjiàn)
主觀／主观 (zhǔguān)
主觀主義／主观主义 (zhǔguān zhǔyì)
主觀唯心主義／主观唯心主义
主觀能動性／主观能动性 (zhǔguān néngdòngxìng)
主角
主計／主计
主詞／主词
主試／主试
主語／主语 (zhǔyǔ)
主調／主调
主謀／主谋 (zhǔmóu)
主講／主讲 (zhǔjiǎng)
主議／主议
主軸／主轴 (zhǔzhóu)
主辦／主办 (zhǔbàn)
主辯／主辩
主隊／主队 (zhǔduì)
主靜／主静
主音 (zhǔyīn)
主頁／主页 (zhǔyè)
主題／主题 (zhǔtí)
主顧／主顾 (zhǔgù)
主食 (zhǔshí)
主體／主体 (zhǔtǐ)
主麻
事主 (shìzhǔ)
人主 (rénzhǔ)
作主 (zuòzhǔ)
借主
做主 (zuòzhǔ)
債主／债主 (zhàizhǔ)
先主
內主／内主
公主 (gōngzhǔ)
化主
原主 (yuánzhǔ)
名主
君主 (jūnzhǔ)
售主
喪主／丧主
嗣主
國主／国主
團主／团主
地主 (dìzhǔ)
地主神 (dìzhǔshén)
地基主 (dìjīzhǔ)
夫主
天主 (Tiānzhǔ)
太主
失主 (shīzhǔ)
奧主／奥主
女主 (nǚzhǔ)
宗主 (zōngzhǔ)
家主 (jiāzhǔ)
寄主 (jìzhǔ)
宿主 (sùzhǔ)
寨主
局主
屋主 (wūzhǔ)
幼主 (yòuzhǔ)
店主 (diànzhǔ)
府主
座主
庵主
廢主／废主 (fèizhǔ)
廟主／庙主
後主／后主
得主 (dézhǔ)
戶主／户主 (hùzhǔ)
房主 (fángzhǔ)
故主
教主 (jiàozhǔ)
教權主義／教权主义 (jiàoquánzhǔyì)
施主 (shīzhǔ)
昏主
易主 (yìzhǔ)
明主 (míngzhǔ)
星主
木主 (mùzhǔ)
本主
東主／东主 (dōngzhǔ)
板主 (bǎnzhǔ)
業主／业主 (yèzhǔ)
樁主／桩主
母主
民主 (mínzhǔ)
浴主
浪漫主義／浪漫主义 (làngmàn zhǔyì)
火主 (huǒzhǔ)
無主／无主 (wúzhǔ)
爵主
牧主
物主 (wùzhǔ)
田主 (tiánzhǔ)
盟主 (méngzhǔ)
真主 (zhēnzhǔ)
神主 (shénzhǔ)
祭主
禁慾主義／禁欲主义 (jìnyùzhǔyì)
窩主／窝主
縣主／县主
翁主
聖主／圣主 (shèngzhǔ)
背主 (bèizhǔ)
自主 (zìzhǔ)
船主 (chuánzhǔ)
苦主 (kǔzhǔ)
莊主／庄主 (zhuāngzhǔ)
行主
觀主／观主
誼主／谊主
謀主／谋主
財主／财主
貨主／货主 (huòzhǔ)
買主／买主 (mǎizhǔ)
貴主／贵主
賓主／宾主 (bīnzhǔ)
賣主／卖主 (màizhǔ)
車主／车主 (chēzhǔ)
郎主
郡主 (jùnzhǔ)
閣主／阁主
院主
隊主／队主
雄主
雇主 (gùzhǔ)
霸主 (bàzhǔ)
領主／领主 (lǐngzhǔ)
頭主／头主
題主／题主 (tízhǔ)
顧主／顾主
飼主／饲主
點主／点主
齋主／斋主

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (主):

→ Japanese: 主(しゅ) (shu)
→ Korean: 주(主) (ju)
→ Vietnamese: chủ (主)

Others:

→ Proto-Tai: *ɕɤwꟲ (“master”)
- Lao: ເຈົ້າ (chao, “lord, master, owner”)
- Thai: เจ้า (jâao, “lord, master, owner”)
→ Vietnamese: chúa (主, “retired father of a king”), Chúa (主, “Lord”)

Pronunciation 2

Mandarin
(Pinyin): zhù (zhu⁴)

(Zhuyin): ㄓㄨˋ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: zhù
  - Zhuyin: ㄓㄨˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: jhù
  - Wade–Giles: chu⁴
  - Yale: jù
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: juh
  - Palladius: чжу (čžu)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹/

Definitions

主

Classifier for events.
Alternative form of 注 (zhù, “to pour into”)

References

“主”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[2], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

Japanese

Shinjitai	主
Kyūjitai ^[1]^[2]^[3]	主󠄁 主+`󠄁`^? (Adobe-Japan1)
	主󠄃 主+`󠄃`^? (Hanyo-Denshi) (Moji_Joho)
The displayed kanji may be different from the image due to your environment. See here for details.

Kanji

主

(Third grade kyōiku kanji)

lord, master
main, principal

Readings

Go-on: す (su, Jōyō ^†)^{←す (su, historical)}
Kan-on: しゅ (shu, Jōyō)^{←しゆ (syu, historical)}
Kun: あるじ (aruji, 主)、おも (omo, 主, Jōyō)、ぬし (nushi, 主, Jōyō)、つかさどる (tsukasadoru, 主る)

Compounds

主(しゅ)格(かく) (shukaku)
主(しゅ)観(かん) (shukan)
主(しゅ)義(ぎ) (shugi)
主(しゅ)権(けん) (shuken)
主(しゅ)権(けん)在(ざい)民(みん) (shuken zaimin)
主(しゅ)語(ご) (shugo)
主(しゅ)宰(さい) (shusai)
主(しゅ)従(じゅう) (shujū), 主(しゅう)従(じゅう) (shūjū)
主(しゅ)食(しょく) (shushoku)
主(しゅ)体(たい) (shutai)
主(しゅ)犯(はん) (shuhan)
主(しゅ)要(よう) (shuyō)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
主
しゅ Grade: 3
kan'on

From Middle Chinese 主 (MC tsyuX).

The kan'on pronunciation, so likely a later borrowing.

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) しゅ [shúꜜ] (Atamadaka – [1])^[4]
IPA^(key): [ɕɨ]

Noun

主(しゅ) • (shu) ^{←しゆ (syu)^?}

Synonyms

主(しゅ)人(じん) (shujin)

Proper noun

主(しゅ) • (Shu) ^{←しゆ (Syu)^?}

the Lord
主(しゅ)の兄(きょう)弟(だい)ヤコブ
Shu no kyōdai Yakobu
James, brother of the Lord

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
主
ぬし Grade: 3
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 主 – see the following entry.

【ぬし】	[noun] 主: master [noun] 主: owner, proprietor [noun] 主: guardian spirit [noun] 主: (archaic) you

(This term, 主, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
主
おも Grade: 3
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 主 – see the following entry.

【おも】	[adjective] chief, main, principal, foremost Alternative spelling 重

(This term, 主, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
主
あるじ Grade: 3
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 主 – see the following entry.

【あるじ】

[noun] head of a household

(This term, 主, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

References

^ 白川静 (Shirakawa Shizuka) (2014) “主”, in 字通 (Jitsū)‎^[1] (in Japanese), popular edition, Tōkyō: Heibonsha, →ISBN
^ Haga, Gōtarō (1914) 漢和大辞書 [The Great Kanji-Japanese Dictionary] (in Japanese), Fourth edition, Tōkyō: Kōbunsha, →DOI, page 62 (paper), page 81 (digital)
^ Shōundō Henshūjo, editor (1927), 新漢和辞典 [The New Kanji-Japanese Dictionary] (in Japanese), Ōsaka: Shōundō, →DOI, page 56 (paper), page 40 (digital)
^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 主 (MC tsyuX). Recorded as Middle Korean 쥬〮 (cyú) (Yale: cyu) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

Hanja

Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

主

Wikisource

主 (eumhun 임금 주 (imgeum ju))
主 (eumhun 주인 주 (ju'in ju))

hanja form^? of 주 (“king”)
hanja form^? of 주 (“master; host; main”)

Compounds

주요 (主要, juyo)
주인 (主人, ju'in, “master, host”)
주권 (主權, jugwon, “sovereignty”)
주객 (主客, jugaek, “host and guest”)
주부 (主婦, jubu, “housewife”)
주범 (主犯, jubeom, “main culprit”)
주인공 (主人公, ju'in'gong, “protagonist”)
민주주의 (民主主義, minjujuui, “democracy”)
공산주의 (共産主義, gongsanjuui, “communism”)
공주 (公主, gongju, “princess”)

References

Naver Hanja Dictionary: 主
국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [3]