盟主

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 盟主 is a noun read めいしゅ, meaning the leader or leading power that heads an alliance or group of forces.
• Basic usage: Use 同盟の盟主となる for assuming leadership and 盟主の呼びかけに応じる for responding to the leader's call.
  • 物語では北の国が同盟の盟主となりました。 describes the northern country becoming leader of the alliance in a story; 諸侯は盟主の呼びかけに応じて城に集まりました。 describes feudal lords answering the leader's summons and gathering at the castle.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 同盟の盟主
  • の links the leading position to the particular alliance being headed.
• 盟主となる
  • と marks alliance leader as the role newly assumed by the northern country.
• 呼びかけに応じる
  • に marks the leader's call or appeal as what the lords responded to.