Translation and Meaning of: 王 - ou

The Japanese word 王[おう] is a fascinating term that carries deep meanings and historical connections. If you are looking to understand its meaning, origin, or how to use it in everyday life, this article will explore all of this in a clear and direct manner. Additionally, we will dive into cultural curiosities and practical tips for those studying Japanese, always based on reliable sources. Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to provide accurate and useful information for your learning.

Meaning and translation of 王[おう]

The term 王[おう] means "king" or "monarch" in Japanese. It is used to refer to supreme rulers, both in historical contexts and in modern narratives, such as animes and mangas. The direct translation into Portuguese is simple, but the cultural weight behind this word goes far beyond.

In Japanese, 王[おう] is not limited to human kings. It can also appear in mythological or metaphorical contexts, such as "king of animals" (動物の王) or even in games, like chess, where the king is referred to as 王. This versatility makes the word quite present in everyday and media vocabulary.

Origin and writing of the kanji 王

The kanji 王 has an interesting origin that dates back to ancient China. Its design represents a ruler wearing a crown, symbolizing authority and power. The character is composed of three horizontal strokes and one vertical stroke, which some scholars associate with the connection between heaven, earth, and man — a classic representation of royalty in Eastern culture.

In Japanese writing, 王 is one of the most recognizable kanji due to its simplicity. It appears in words like 国王 (kokuou - king of a country) and 王様 (ousama - honorific form for "king"). If you are learning Japanese, memorizing this kanji may be easier than it seems, as it is frequently used in teaching materials and even in brand names.

Cultural use and frequency in Japanese

In Japan, 王[おう] is not a word commonly used in daily conversation to refer to people, as the country does not have an active monarchy in the same sense as other nations. However, it frequently appears in honorific titles, competitions (such as sports championships), and in pop culture. For example, in "One Piece", the character Gol D. Roger is known as the "King of the Pirates" (海賊王).

Furthermore, the word carries a strong symbolic weight in expressions like 王道 (oudou), which means "the king's way" and is used to describe something classic, traditional, or widely accepted. This type of usage demonstrates how the term transcends its literal meaning and integrates into the language in creative ways.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 皇 (Kō) - Emperor
• 帝 (Tei) - Emperor, often used in a formal or traditional context
• 天子 (Tenshi) - Son of Heaven, a title associated with the emperor.
• 君主 (Kunshu) - Monarch, ruler, general title for leaders
• 主 (Aruji) - Sir, master, can refer to a figure of authority.
• 王者 (Ōja) - Rei, ruler
• 王様 (Ōsama) - Rei, a respectful title
• 王爺 (Ōya) - Honorific title of a prince or a person of high status
• 王公 (Ōkō) - Prince, nobility, refers to members of the aristocracy.
• 王侯 (Ōkō) - Nobles refers to the nobility, generally in a collective context.
• 王族 (Ōzoku) - Royal family, members of the royal lineage
• 王家 (Ōke) - Royal family, specific royal house
• 王朝 (Ōchō) - Dynasty, a sequence of rulers from the same family
• 王国 (Ōkoku) - Kingdom, a state ruled by a king
• 王室 (Ōshitsu) - Royal house, referring to the institution of royalty.
• 王座 (Ōza) - Throne, the seat of the king or queen
• 王冠 (Ōkan) - Crown, symbol of royalty
• 王位 (Ōi) - Position of king, status of monarch
• 王子 (Ōji) - Prince, son of a king
• 王女 (Ōjo) - Princess, daughter of a king
• 王妃 (Ōhi) - Queen consort, wife of a king
• 王嬢 (Ōjō) - Daughter of a king, formal title for princesses
• 王子様 (Ōji-sama) - Prince, respectful form
• 王女様 (Ōjo-sama) - Princess, respectful form
• 王女子 (Ōnko) - Daughter of a king, less common, but used
• 王太子 (Ōtaishi) - Crown prince, the son who will succeed to the throne.
• 王太子殿下 (Ōtaishi-denka) - Crown Prince, respectful form
• 王子殿下 (Ōji-denka) - Prince, respectful form
• 王女殿下 (Ōjo-denka) - Princess, respectful form
• 王妃殿下 (Ōhi-denka) - Consort queen, respectful form
• 王妃陛下 (Ōhi-heika) - Consort queen, a respectful title
• 王陛下 (Ō-heika) - Your Majesty, referring to the king with great respect
• 王上 (Ōjō) - Regarding a king, used in a respectful context.
• 王下 (Ōge) - Used in contexts that indicate submission to a king
• 王中 (Ōnaka) - Regarding the kingdom, a less common term.
• 王牌 (Ōhai) - Ace, in gaming language, especially card games
• 王手 (Ōte) - King move, used in games like shogi
• 王将 (Ōshō) - Rei, the most powerful piece in the game of shogi

王

Romaji: ou
Kana: おう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: 1. king; ruler; sovereign; monarch; 2. king (for senior player) (shogi)

Meaning in English: O kanji 王 (ou) significa "rei" ou "monarca". Este kanji é composto pelo radical 玉(joia) e 一 (um), simbolizando uma figura de autoridade que governa com sabedoria e riqueza. A origem deste kanji está nas antigas civilizações chinesas, onde os reis eram vistos como intermediários entre o céu e a terra. No Japão, 王é usado para descrever figuras de liderança com conotações de poder e majestade.

Definition: the country's highest authority.

Example Sentences - (王) ou

See below some example sentences:

女王は国を治める力を持っている。

Joou wa kuni wo osameru chikara wo motte iru

The Queen has the power to govern the country.

The Queen has the power to govern the country.

• 女王 - Means "queen" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle in Japanese.
• 国 - "País" significa "国" (kuni) em japonês.
• を - Object particle in Japanese.
• 治める - means "to govern" or "manage" in Japanese.
• 力 - means "power" or "strength" in Japanese.
• を - Object particle in Japanese.
• 持っている - means "to have" or "to possess" in Japanese.

王女は美しいです。

Oujo wa utsukushii desu

The princess is beautiful.

The princess is beautiful.

• 王女 - "oujo" - means "princess"
• は - wa- Topic particle
• 美しい - "utsukushii" - means "beautiful"
• です - desu - polite way of "being"

国王は国を統治する責任がある。

Kokuō wa kuni o tōchi suru sekinin ga aru

The king is responsible for the government of the country.

• 国王 - Rei
• は - Topic particle
• 国を - Country
• 統治する - to rule
• 責任が - responsibility
• ある - exist

王様はとても威厳がある。

Ousama wa totemo igon ga aru

The king has a lot of dignity.

The king is very dignified.

• 王様 - Rei
• は - Topic particle
• とても - very
• 威厳 - dignity, authority
• が - subject particle
• ある - exist, have

王子は美しい庭園を持っています。

Ōji wa utsukushii teien o motteimasu

The prince has a beautiful garden.

• 王子 (ou ōji) - means "prince" in Japanese
• は (ou wa) - topic particle in Japanese, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "prince"
• 美しい (ou utsukushii) - The adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful" in Japanese is "美しい" (utsukushii).
• 庭園 (ou teien) - noun meaning "garden" or "park" in Japanese
• を (ou o) - direct object particle in Japanese, indicates that "garden" is the direct object of the action
• 持っています (ou motteimasu) - verb meaning "to have" or "to possess" in Japanese, in the present continuous tense