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)
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）
— king (respectful form) -
女王
（じょおう）
— queen -
王国
（おうこく）
— kingdom -
王子
（おうじ）
— prince -
国王
（こくおう）
— king of a country -
王女
（おうじょ）
— 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。
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。
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。
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.
| Kanji | 王 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | king |
| On’yomi | オウ (OU) |
| Strokes | 4 |
| JLPT | N5 |