How to say 'King' in Japanese | 王

Wondering how to say 'King' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for King is 'Ou', written as 王 in Japanese.'King' in hiragana is おう.

word

王

Meaning

King

Reading

おう

Kanji

王King

Explanation

The Japanese noun '王 (おう)' means 'king'. It refers to a male monarch or ruler of a kingdom, often holding the highest authority. This term is used in both historical and modern contexts, such as in fairy tales, history, or even metaphorically. For example: The king ruled the country「王は国を治めた」(おうはくにをおさめた). He is the king of pop music「彼はポップミュージックの王だ」(かれはぽっぷみゅーじっくのおうだ). The word can also be used in compound nouns, such as '王様 (おうさま)' (king, with a more respectful tone) or '王冠 (おうかん)' (crown).

Part Of Speech

noun

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

818

Composition

kanji

Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 王

This word contains 1 kanji character:

kanji

王

Meaning

King

Words Related to 王 Through the Kanji 王

These 6 Words contain the Kanji 王 as well.

word

王様

Meaning

King

word

国王

Meaning

King

word

女王

Meaning

Queen

word

王国

Meaning

Kingdom

word

王朝

Meaning

Dynasty

word

大王

Meaning

King

Learn the Word 王

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What does 'Ou' (王) mean?

'Ou' means 'King' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.