Teishu

Teishu is a Japanese term written with the characters 亭主 and pronounced teishu. It primarily means the host or master of a household and can refer to the owner of a home, inn, restaurant, or other establishment. The word can also appear in older or literary contexts to denote a husband, though in contemporary usage it is most common in the sense of a host.

Etymology and usage: 亭 means a pavilion or lodging, and 主 means master or owner, together conveying the sense of the person in charge of a dwelling or gathering. In everyday modern Japanese, teishu is used to designate the host of a social event, such as a tea ceremony or dinner, and can also refer to the proprietor of a business in historical or formal writing. A well-known compound, 亭主関白 (teishu kanpaku), describes a domineering husband.

In traditional settings, teishu often carries connotations of hospitality and responsibility for guests. In the context of the Japanese tea ceremony, the teishu is the host who invites guests, arranges the setting, and serves tea and sweets according to etiquette. The term underscores the social role of hosting and managing the guest experience.

Related terms and notes: While teishu can appear in modern language to mean husband in historical or literary contexts, everyday speech more commonly uses other words such as otto or shujin for “husband.” The concept of a teishu highlights the cultural importance placed on hospitality, hierarchy, and responsibility within social gatherings in Japan.