Translation and Meaning of: 長 - osa

The Japanese word 長[おさ] is a term that piques curiosity both for its writing and for its specific usage in the Japanese language. If you are looking to understand its meaning, origin, or how to apply it in everyday sentences, this article will guide you through these details clearly. Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to provide precise and useful explanations for students and enthusiasts of the language.

In addition to exploring the translation and context of 長[おさ], we will address its frequency of use, variations, and even tips to memorize this kanji. Whether to enrich your vocabulary or to understand cultural nuances, this content is designed to answer your questions in a direct and practical way.

Meaning and usage of 長[おさ]

The term 長[おさ] is a kun'yomi reading of the kanji 長, which generally refers to ideas of "chief," "leader," or "person in charge." Unlike readings such as ちょう (chō) or なが (naga), which can indicate length or duration, おさ carries a more hierarchical meaning. It appears in words like 組長 (kumichō – group leader) or 村長 (sonchō – village mayor), reinforcing its role in authority contexts.

It is worth noting that おさ is not an isolated term – it often forms part of compositions, usually followed by a suffix or another kanji. This characteristic makes it less common in casual conversations, but still relevant in formal titles or descriptions of positions. Its usage is more connected to organizational structures, such as in companies or local communities.

Origin and curiosities about the kanji 長

The kanji 長 has an interesting history: its original form in ancient Chinese represented a person with long hair, symbolizing something that extends in time or space. Over time, this ideogram gained connotations of leadership, as ancient figures with long hair often held positions of power. This duality between "length" and "chief" still persists in modern Japanese.

A curiosity confirmed by linguists is that おさ derives from the verb 押さえる (osaeru), which means "to control" or "to suppress." This connection helps explain why this reading is associated with figures of authority. Dictionaries like 漢字源 (Kanjigen) and Jisho.org confirm this etymological relationship, showing how the language evolved to link sound and meaning.

How to memorize and practice 長[おさ]

To solidify this word, an effective strategy is to associate it with specific positions or titles. Words like 艦長 (kanchō – ship captain) or 長官 (chōkan – director) use the same kanji with different readings, creating a recognizable pattern. Writing down these examples in flashcards or apps like Anki can accelerate your learning, especially if you include short phrases like 長の指示に従う (to obey the leader's orders).

Another tip is to pay attention to Japanese dramas or news programs, where like 市長 (shichō – mayor) frequently appear. Political or business contexts, or even anime scenes that involve hierarchy (like in "Attack on Titan" with its 兵士長), provide real examples of use. The more you relate おさ to concrete situations, the more natural your recognition will be.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

長い (Nagai) - Long
長さ (Nagasa) - Length
長期 (Chouki) - Longo prazo
長所 (Chousho) - Ponto forte; mérito
長編 (Chouhen) - Long work (e.g., film, book)
長者 (Chouja) - Pessoa idosa; idoso; pessoa rica
長男 (Chonan) - Filho mais velho
長女 (Choujo) - Eldest daughter
長官 (Choukan) - Ministro; diretor
長崎 (Nagasaki) - Nagasaki
長閑 (Nodoka) - Carefree; tranquil
長続き (Nagatsuzuki) - Durabilidade; resistência
長瀞 (Nagatoro) - Nagatoro
長編小説 (Chouhen Shousetsu) - Long novel
長距離 (Choukyori) - Long distance
長続きする (Nagatsuzuki suru) - Para durar muito; para ar
長命 (Choumei) - Longa vida
長編小説家 (Chouhen Shousetsuka) - Long novel writer
長編小説作家 (Chouhen Shousetsu Sakka) - Longo autor de romances
長寿 (Chouju) - Longevidade
長時間 (Choujidai) - Longo tempo
長編小説化 (Chouhen Shousetsuka) - Adaptação para um romance longo
長編映画 (Chouhen Eiga) - Longo filme
長編小説版 (Chouhen Shousetsu Ban) - Version de um romance longo
長期間 (Choukikan) - Longo período
長編アニメ (Chouhen Anime) - Long anime
長編ドラマ (Chouhen Drama) - Longo drama
長編小説化する (Chouhen Shousetsuka suru) - Para transformar em um romance longo

Related words

長閑

nodoka

quiet; calm; still

年長

nenchou

Antique

長い

nagai

far away

長々

naganaga

for a long time; a long time; a long time

長引く

nagabiku

be prolonged; to drag

長所

chousho

strong point

長女

choujyo

Oldest daughter

長短

choutan

length; length and short; +-

長大

choudai

very long; great length

長男

chounan

oldest son

長

Romaji: osa
Kana: おさ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: boss; head

Meaning in English: chief;head

Definition: The time and distance are vast, and the dimensions are vast.

Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (長) osa

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (長) osa:

Example Sentences - (長) osa

See below some example sentences:

半径が長い円形のテーブルを探しています。

Hansei ga nagai enkei no teburu wo sagashiteimasu

I'm looking for a circular table with a long radius.

半径 (hankei) - ray
が (ga) - subject particle
長い (nagai) - far away
円形 (enkei) - circular
の (no) - Possession particle
テーブル (teeburu) - table
を (wo) - direct object particle
探しています (sagashiteimasu) - searching

年長者は尊敬されるべきだ。

Nenchōsha wa sonkei sareru beki da

The older ones must be respected.

The elder must be respected.

年長者 - means "older person" or "elderly".
は - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "年長者".
尊敬 - means "respect" or "iration".
される - ive form of the verb "suru", which means "to be done" or "to happen". In this case, it indicates that respect is something that is "done" or "happens" towards the elderly.
べき - indicates obligation or duty. In this case, it indicates that it is a duty to respect the elderly.
だ - shortened form of "desu", which is a polite way of saying "to be" or "to be". In this case, it indicates that the sentence is an affirmation.

延長する必要があります。

Enchō suru hitsuyō ga arimasu

We need to extend.

You need to extend it.

延長する - verb that means "to extend" or "to prolong"
必要 - adjective meaning "necessary" or "essential"
が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
あります - verb that indicates the existence or presence of something, in this case, the need to extend or prolong something

彼女の成長を妨げることはできない。

Kanojo no seichou wo samatageru koto wa dekinai

It cannot stop its growth.

彼女 (kanojo) - she
の (no) - Possessive particle
成長 (seichou) - Growth
を (wo) - direct object particle
妨げる (samatageru) - impedir
こと (koto) - abstract noun
は (wa) - Topic particle
できない (dekinai) - cannot be done

新興国の経済成長は驚くべきものです。

Shinkōkoku no keizai seichō wa odoroku beki mono desu

The economic growth of emerging countries is surprising.

新興国 - developing country
の - Possession particle
経済成長 - Crescimento econômico
は - Topic particle
驚くべき - surprising
もの - thing
です - Verb to be/estar in the present

日本とブラジルの国交は長い歴史があります。

Nihon to Burajiru no kokkou wa nagai rekishi ga arimasu

Diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil have a long history.

日本 - Japan
と - I'm sorry, but I need a text or string to translate from Portuguese to English. Please provide the content you'd like me to work on.
ブラジル - Brazil
の - of
国交 - diplomatic relations
は - are
長い - longas
歴史 - history
が - have
あります - existed

私の家族には長男がいます。

Watashi no kazoku ni wa chōnan ga imasu

I have an eldest son in my family.

My family has the eldest son.

私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
家族 - noun meaning "family"
には - particle indicating the existence of something in a certain place or situation
長男 - noun meaning "eldest son"
が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
います - verb meaning "to exist" or "to be present"

私は長時間働いた後にはばてる。

Watashi wa choujikan hataraita ato ni wa bateru

I get exhausted after working for a long time.

After working for a long time.

私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
長時間 (choujikan) - noun meaning "long period of time"
働いた (hataraita) - past tense verb meaning "I worked"
後に (ato ni) - expression meaning "after"
はばてる (habateru) - verb meaning "to be exhausted"

私は学校のクラスで班長を務めています。

Watashi wa gakkou no kurasu de hancho wo tsutomete imasu

I am the team leader in my school class.

I'm a group leader in the school class.

私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, indicating that the subject is "I"
学校 (gakkou) - noun meaning "school"
の (no) - particle indicating ownership, i.e. "of the school"
クラス (kurasu) - noun meaning "class", in the sense of a group of students
で (de) - particle indicating the place where the action takes place, in this case, "in class"
班長 (hanchou) - noun meaning "group leader", in this case the class leader
を (wo) - particle indicating the direct object of the sentence, i.e. "I am playing the role of group leader"
務めています (tsutometeimasu) - verb meaning "I am performing" or "I am exercising"