王 means “king”

おう · ou

Also: rule, magnate

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

オウ, -ノウ

Taught in grade 1 · 4 strokes

The story

Three horizontal lines (heaven, humanity, earth) connected by one vertical stroke: the ruler who unites all realms. Japan's emperors carry a lineage stretching back millennia, the longest unbroken royal line in history.

Used in 王様 (ousama, king) and 女王 (joou, queen)

More from Society & Government

• 法 law
• 政 politics
• 民 people
• 族 tribe
• 都 capital
• 市 city
• 町 town
• 村 village
• 会 meeting
• 社 company
• 官 government official
• 軍 army

Learn 王 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

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