majestic plural, imperial we

About this kanji

The kanji 「朕」 primarily means "majestic plural" or "imperial we," and is used exclusively by emperors in Japan to refer to themselves, emphasizing their authority and status. This kanji is not commonly used in everyday language, and you won't find it in compound words like many other kanji. Since it has no Kun'yomi readings or frequent compounds, its usage is quite specialized. It’s important to note that this kanji symbolizes the imperial perspective and is rarely encountered outside historical and formal contexts. Because of its unique application, it’s more of a cultural marker rather than a practical element for conversational Japanese.

Example sentences

• 朕はこの地を治める者なり。

  I am the one who rules this land.

Meanings across languages

English

majestic plural, imperial we

Tiếng Việt

ngài, tiến cử

日本語

朕, 皇帝の私

한국어

저, 황제의 우리

中文

朕, 皇帝的我们

id

jamak megah

th

พหูพจน์อันสูงส่ง

es

plural majestuoso

fr

nous royal

de

majestic plural, wir

pt

plural majestático