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母后 (ぼこう, bokou) Japanese meaning: empress dowager | Kotomora

母ぼ后こう

ぼ

こ

う

Meanings

1

empress dowager

Refers to the mother of the reigning emperor, or a former empress. Used in historical or imperial contexts.

母ぼ后こうは幼おさない天皇てんのうを補ほ佐さした。
The empress dowager assisted the young emperor.

Kanji

母mother
后empress, queen, after

Related words

皇こう太たい后ごう
皇太后 is a more formal title for the empress dowager, often used in official contexts, while 母后 emphasizes the maternal relationship to the emperor.

Etymology

Compound of 母 (mother) and 后 (empress). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is conventionally associated with the mother of the reigning emperor.