empress, queen, after, behind
Also: back, later
On'yomi (音読み)
- コウ
- ゴ
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
- きさき
About this kanji
The kanji 「后」 primarily means "empress" or "queen," but it can also refer to something that comes "after" or is "behind." This kanji is often used as a noun. A couple of common compounds include 皇后 (こうごう), which means "empress" specifically in the context of a ruler's consort, and 皇太后 (こうたいごう), which refers to an "Empress Dowager," a title for the mother of a reigning emperor. Another interesting compound is 后宮 (こうぐう), meaning "empress's palace." Note that while 「后」 can have regal connotations, it is also used in various contexts to imply something that follows or is at the back.
Example sentences
皇后の行動が注目された。
The empress's actions were in the spotlight.
Meanings across languages
- English
- empress, queen, after, behind, back, later
- Tiếng Việt
- hoàng hậu
- 日本語
- 后
- 한국어
- 황후
- 中文
- 后
- id
- permaisuri, ratu
- th
- จักรพรรดินี, พระราชินี
- es
- emperatriz, reina
- fr
- impératrice, reine
- de
- Kaiserin, Königin
- pt
- imperatriz, rainha
Common compounds
- 皇后こうごうempress (consort)
- 皇太后こうたいごうEmpress Dowager, Queen Mother
- 后宮こうぐうempress's palace, queen's palace, empress
- 天后てんこうqueen of heaven
- 母后ぼこうempress dowager
- 太后たいこうempress dowager, queen mother
- 王后おうこうqueen
- 三后さんこうGrand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Consort
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