A1 noun Neutral #2,991 most common

監督

kantoku /ka̠nto̞kɯ̟ᵝ/

A person who oversees, supervises, or directs a group of people or a project. It is most commonly used to refer to a film director, a sports coach, or a site supervisor in a workplace.

Examples

3 of 5
1

この映画の監督はとても有名です。

The director of this movie is very famous.

2

監督の指示に従い、安全を確保してください。

Please follow the supervisor's instructions to ensure safety.

3

監督、今日の練習は何時から?

Coach, what time is practice today?

Word Family

Noun
監督
Verb
監督する
Related
監督者
💡

Memory Tip

Visualize a person standing on a platform 'looking down' (監 - watch) and 'commanding' (督 - urge) everyone below.

Quick Quiz

新しい野球チームの( )が決まりました。

Correct!

The correct answer is: 監督

Examples

1

この映画の監督はとても有名です。

everyday

The director of this movie is very famous.

2

監督の指示に従い、安全を確保してください。

formal

Please follow the supervisor's instructions to ensure safety.

3

監督、今日の練習は何時から?

informal

Coach, what time is practice today?

4

本論文では、教育現場における監督の役割を考察する。

academic

This paper examines the role of supervision in educational settings.

5

現場監督がプロジェクトの進捗を管理しています。

business

The site supervisor is managing the project's progress.

Word Family

Noun
監督
Verb
監督する
Related
監督者

Common Collocations

映画監督 film director
現場監督 site supervisor
監督を務める to serve as a director/coach
厳しい監督 strict supervision
監督官庁 supervisory authority

Common Phrases

監督不行き届き

lack of supervision/oversight

監督責任

supervisory responsibility

総監督

general manager/executive director

Often Confused With

監督 vs コーチ

While 'coach' focuses on technical training, 'kantoku' refers to the overall head of the team or project.

監督 vs 演出

Specifically refers to the creative direction of a play or performance, while 'kantoku' is the overall director.

📝

Usage Notes

The word can be used as a noun or as a suru-verb. When referring to someone by their title, you can add it directly to their name, such as 'Tanaka-kantoku'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

English speakers sometimes use 'director' (ディレクター) for sports, but in Japanese, 'kantoku' is the standard term for a sports head coach.

💡

Memory Tip

Visualize a person standing on a platform 'looking down' (監 - watch) and 'commanding' (督 - urge) everyone below.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from Middle Chinese: 'Kan' (監) meaning to inspect/watch and 'Toku' (督) meaning to lead/urge.

Grammar Patterns

Used as a job title (e.g., 黒澤監督) Compound nouns: [Field] + 監督 Verb form: [Object]を監督する
🌍

Cultural Context

In Japan, the 'Kantoku' of a sports team or movie is often treated with extreme respect and holds absolute authority over the group.

Quick Quiz

新しい野球チームの( )が決まりました。

Correct!

The correct answer is: 監督

Related Words

協力

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Cooperation or collaboration where two or more people combine their efforts to achieve a common goal. It is used in both personal and professional settings to describe working together as a team or providing assistance.

西

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Nishi refers to the cardinal direction 'west'. It is used to describe the location of places, directions on a map, or the path of celestial bodies like the sun setting.

提案

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A suggestion or proposal of a plan or idea for others to consider. It is used in both casual conversations and professional meetings to introduce a potential course of action.

輸出

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The act of sending goods or services produced in one country to another country for sale or trade. In Japanese, it functions as a noun and a suru-verb, representing the 'exit' of products from a domestic market.

輸入

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The act of bringing goods, services, or materials into a country from abroad for sale or use. In Japanese, it functions as a noun or can be combined with 'suru' to become a verb meaning 'to import'.

資源

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Shigen refers to valuable materials or assets, such as natural minerals, energy sources, or human talent, that can be used for production or survival. It is widely used in economics, environmental science, and daily life to describe both raw materials and abstract wealth.

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One of the four cardinal directions, pointing towards the North Pole. It is commonly used in Japanese to describe geographic locations, weather patterns, and specific parts of train stations or buildings.

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This word has two primary meanings depending on the reading: 'omote' refers to the front, surface, or outside of an object, while 'hyō' refers to a table, chart, or list. It is a fundamental noun used to distinguish the visible side of things or to organize information visually.

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Refers to the side or direction that is toward the west when one faces north. It is a fundamental spatial term used for navigation, positioning, and describing the physical orientation of objects.

流れ

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Refers to the continuous movement of a liquid like a river, or the abstract progression of events, time, or conversation. It describes how things follow one another in a smooth sequence or direction.

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