后
empress, queen, after, behind, back, later
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
- ゴ
Kun'yomi
- きさき
Meaning
后 centers on a female sovereign: an empress or queen. The meanings 'after', 'behind', 'back', and 'later' belong to a separate usage where 后 is used as a substitute for 後 in some contexts, but the core identity of this kanji is the royal consort.
Most common words using 后
- 后きさき
empress (consort); queen (consort)
- 皇后こうごうN1
empress (consort)
- 皇太后こうたいごう
Empress Dowager; Queen Mother
- 三后さんこう
Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Consort
- 三皇后さんこうごう
Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Consort
- 上皇后じょうこうごう
retired empress; ex-empress; former empress; empress emerita
- 上皇后陛下じょうこうごうへいか
retired empress; ex-empress; former empress; empress emerita
- 后きさい
empress (consort); queen (consort)
- 后宮こうぐう
empress's palace; queen's palace
- 后町きさきまち
women's pavilion (of the inner Heian palace)
- 天后てんこう
queen of heaven
- 天皇皇后両陛下てんのうこうごうりょうへいか
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress
- 太后たいこう
empress dowager; queen mother
- 太皇太后たいこうたいごう
Grand Empress Dowager
- 母后ぼこう
empress dowager
- 王后おうこう
queen
- 王后陛下おうこうへいか
Her Majesty the Queen
- 皇后宮こうごうぐう
empress's residence
- 皇后陛下こうごうへいか
Her Majesty the Empress
Study
Etymology
后 originally depicted a person with a prominent mouth, likely representing a ruler giving commands. Over time it became specifically associated with a female ruler or consort. The use for 'after' is a later borrowing.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part looks like a crown or headdress, and the 口 inside is the mouth of the empress issuing decrees. Together they form the image of a queen.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine a queen wearing a golden crown: the 'co' in 'crown' sounds like コウ, and she is the empress.