Chinese phrases

How to say boss in Chinese

Boss in Chinese is 老板 (lǎo bǎn), the owner of a business. In a large or state-owned company, people call their superior 领导 (lǐng dǎo), “leader.”

老板

lǎo bǎn

boss; owner

People also say 老板 to whoever runs a small shop or restaurant, from a noodle shop owner to a fruit seller. It’s friendly and polite.

Ways to say boss

老板
lǎo bǎn
Everyday
boss; owner
The owner of a company or a shop, and your boss at a private company.
领导
lǐng dǎo
Everyday
superior; the people in charge
Your superior at work, especially in state-owned companies, schools and government offices.
经理
jīng lǐ
Formal
manager
A job title. Staff address a manager with the surname first: 张经理.
王总
wáng zǒng
Formal
Mr or Ms Wang (the head)
Surname + 总 is how staff and clients address the head of a company or a senior manager.
老大
lǎo dà
With friends
the boss; chief
Jokey, inside a team or a group of friends, for the person in charge.
上司
shàng si
Written
superior
Neutral and a little formal, common in writing. In speech people say 领导 or 老板.

老板娘
lǎo bǎn niáng
the lady boss; the owner’s wife
The woman who runs a small shop or restaurant. Customers also use it to address her.
老板，结账
lǎo bǎn, jié zhàng
the bill, please
The usual way to ask for the bill in a small restaurant.

Being surprised when you are called 老板
Some stall owners and salespeople call customers 老板 or 帅哥 to be friendly. It doesn’t mean they think you own a business.
Calling every boss 老板
老板 fits a private business. In a state-owned company, a school or a public office, staff say 领导.
Using your boss’s name
Many Chinese offices use titles, not names. Say 王总 or 张经理, not the person’s name.

In the dictionary: 老板 · 领导 · 经理 · 上司 · 老板娘