老板 (lǎobǎn)

老板 refers to a boss, business owner, or employer, and is used both in formal workplace settings and casual conversation.

Meanings

[noun] boss; owner; employer; proprietor

Example Sentences

我的老板对员工非常严格。 Wǒ de lǎobǎn duì yuángōng fēicháng yángé. My boss is very strict with the employees.

他决定自己创业，做自己的老板。 Tā juédìng zìjǐ chuàngyè, zuò zìjǐ de lǎobǎn. He decided to start his own business and be his own boss.

老板今天开会迟到了。 Lǎobǎn jīntiān kāihuì chídào le. The boss was late to the meeting today.

这家餐厅的老板很热情。 Zhè jiā cāntīng de lǎobǎn hěn rèqíng. The owner of this restaurant is very welcoming.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
大老板 (dà lǎobǎn)	big boss; top executive
老板娘 (lǎobǎn niáng)	female boss; owner's wife
做老板 (zuò lǎobǎn)	to be a boss/owner
老板说 (lǎobǎn shuō)	the boss said

Usage Notes

老板 can refer to any person in charge, whether a business owner, a restaurant proprietor, or a workplace supervisor. It is widely used in daily conversation and is not considered disrespectful. In some regions, it is even used as a friendly address to a shop owner, similar to calling someone "chief" in English.

Memory Hook

老 (old/experienced) + 板 (plank/board) — the old experienced one who holds the board (the plank of authority), that is your boss.