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薨御 (こうぎょ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

薨こう御ぎょ

こ

う

ぎょ

Meanings

1

noun

death of an important person

honorific or respectful (sonkeigo)

Honorific term used for the death of high-ranking individuals such as princes, princesses, or cabinet ministers. Formal and respectful.

皇こう太たい子しの薨こう御ぎょが国くに中じゅうに深ふかい悲かなしみをもたらした。
The death of the Crown Prince brought deep sorrow to the whole nation.

Kanji

薨die
御honorable, manipulate, govern

Similar words

崩ほう御ぎょ
Used exclusively for the death of the emperor or empress, while 薨御 is for other high-ranking individuals.
死し去きょ
General term for death, neutral in register, unlike the honorific 薨御.

Etymology

Composed of 薨 (death of a high-ranking person) and 御 (honorific prefix). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination is conventionally associated with respectful reference to the death of nobility or high officials.