王
王 means ‘king’ or ‘ruler.’ Its three horizontal strokes connected by a vertical line represent a person who stands between heaven, humanity, and earth — the three realms a king governs.
Reading
On’yomi: オウ (ou)
Kun’yomi: —
Basic Information
| Kanji | 王 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | king |
| Stroke Count | 4 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
王 has a grand, formal feel and is used in contexts like royalty, board games (the king piece in 将棋), and champion titles. It rarely refers to modern political leaders.
Common Words
- 王様（おうさま / ōsama） — king (respectful form)
- 女王（じょおう / joō） — queen
- 王国（おうこく / ōkoku） — kingdom
- 王子（おうじ / ōji） — prince
- 国王（こくおう / kokuō） — king of a country
- 王女（おうじょ / ōjo） — princess
Example Sentences
-
昔、強い王様がいました。
むかし、つよいおうさまがいました。 / Mukashi, tsuyoi ōsama ga imashita.
Long ago, there was a powerful king.
-
王子はお城に住んでいます。
おうじはおしろにすんでいます。 / Ōji wa oshiro ni sunde imasu.
The prince lives in a castle.
-
この国には女王がいます。
このくににはじょおうがいます。 / Kono kuni ni wa joō ga imasu.
This country has a queen.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
王 is the basis for 玉 (jewel/ball) — just one dot different. If you learn them side by side, you will avoid confusing them. 王 also appears as a radical in kanji such as 理 and 現.
Summary
王 means ‘king’ and appears in words related to royalty, champions, and authority.