后 means “empress, queen”

こう · kou

Also: after, behind

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

きさき

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

コウ, ゴ

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 6 · 6 strokes

The story

A figure leaning over a mouth (口): picture a voice giving orders from beside the throne. 后 is an empress: 皇后 is the Empress of Japan, and 皇太后 is the empress dowager, widow of the previous emperor.

Used in 皇后 (kougou, empress), 皇太后 (koutaigou, empress dowager), and 西太后 (seitaikou, Empress Dowager Cixi)

More from Emperors & Nobles

• 伯 count
• 陵 imperial tomb
• 妃 queen consort
• 勅 imperial order
• 詔 imperial edict
• 戴 be crowned with
• 侯 marquis
• 朕 imperial we
• 謁 audience (with royalty)
• 爵 peerage
• 皇 emperor
• 貴 precious

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.