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
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
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Sentences
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:
Kono heya no teburu wa chouhoukei no katachi o shite imasu
The table in this room is in the shape of a rectangle.
The table in this room has a rectangular shape.
- この部屋の - indicates that the sentence refers to something inside this quarto
- テーブル - table
- は - partícula that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, the table
- 長方形 - Rectangle
- の - partícula that indicates possession, in this case, the shape of the table
- 形 - Form
- を - particle indicating the direct object of the sentence, in this case, the shape of the table
- しています - verb that indicates that the table has the shape of a rectangle
Choukan wa kuni no juuyou na pojiton desu
The office of choukan is an important position in the country.
The secretary is an important position for the country.
- 長官 - means "boss" or "leader" in Japanese.
- は - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence.
- 国 - "País" significa "国" (kuni) em japonês.
- の - Japanese particle of possession, used to indicate that a "country" owns something.
- 重要な - means "important" in Japanese, used as an adjective for "ポジション".
- ポジション - means "position" in English, but is often used in Japanese to refer to a job or position.
- です - verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate that the sentence is a statement or affirmation.
Nagai aida omatase shimashita
I've been waiting a long time.
- 長い間 - It means "for a long time".
- お待たせしました - It is a Japanese expression that means "sorry for making you wait."
Naganaga to hanasu no wa tsukareru
Talking for a long time is tiring.
It's tired to talk for a long time.
- 長々と - adverb meaning "for a long time"
- 話す - verb meaning "to speak"
- のは - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
- 疲れる - verb meaning "to tire"
Choutan wa hito sorezore desu
The longs and shorts are every person.
- 長短 - means "length" or "size" in Japanese.
- は - is a tagging particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
- 人 - means "person" in Japanese.
- それぞれ - means "each" or "individually" in Japanese.
- です - It is a polite way of saying "is" or "are" in Japanese.
Kawa wa jōbu de nagamochi suru sozai desu
Leather is a durable and long lasting material.
- 革 (kawa) - leather
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 丈夫 (joubu) - resistant, durable
- で (de) - connecting particle
- 長持ちする (nagamochi suru) - last a long time
- 素材 (sozai) - material
- です (desu) - polite way of being
Yōbun wa shokubutsu no seichō ni hitsuyōna eiyōso desu
Nutrition is a necessary nutrient for plant growth.
- 養分 (Younbun) - nutriente
- は (wa) - marcador de tópico
- 植物 (shokubutsu) - planta
- の (no) - possessive particle
- 成長 (seichou) - growth
- に (ni) - indicando o propósito ou objetivo de uma ação
- 必要 (hitsuyou) - necessário
- な (na) - adjetivo auxiliar
- 栄養素 (eiyousou) - nutriente
- です (desu) - copula
Kami ga nagai josei wa utsukushii desu
Women with long hair are beautiful.
Women with long hair are beautiful.
- 髪が長い - long hair
- 女性 - woman
- 美しい - beautiful
- です - Is (verb to be in the present tense)
Watashi wa buchou desu
I'm the department head.
I'm the director.
- 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
- は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
- 部長 (buchou) - noun that means "department head"
- です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence
Watashi wa nagai sanpo no ato ni kusagarerimashita
I was exhausted after a long walk.
I was lying down after a long walk.
- 私 - personal pronoun "I"
- は - Topic particle
- 長い - "long" adjective
- 散歩 - noun "walk"
- の - Possession particle
- 後に - expression "after"
- 草臥れました - verb "to be exhausted"
Other Words of this Type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
