上じょう皇こう

じょ

う

こ

う

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

Honorific term for a former emperor who has abdicated. Used in historical contexts and for modern abdicated emperors.

退たい

位い

後ご

、

静しず

か

な

生せい

活かつ

を

送おく

ら

れ

て

いる

。

The retired emperor leads a quiet life after abdication.

日本にほん史しでは、上じょう皇こうが院いん政せいを行おこなった時じ代だいがある。

In Japanese history, there was a period when retired emperors ruled from behind the scenes.

〈人ひと〉が上じょう皇こうとなるfor someone to become a retired emperor
天皇てんのう陛へい下かは退たい位いして上じょう皇こうとなった。
His Majesty the Emperor abdicated and became the retired emperor.
上じょう皇こうとして〈事こと〉in the capacity of retired emperor, doing something
上じょう皇こうとして公こう務むを続つづけられている。
He continues to carry out official duties as the retired emperor.

太上天皇だいじょうてんのう
太上天皇 is the full, formal historical title for a retired emperor, while 上皇 is the everyday abbreviation used for the same person.

天皇てんのうN2
天皇 refers to the currently reigning emperor, while 上皇 refers to an emperor who has abdicated and stepped down from the throne.

法ほう皇おう
法皇 is a retired emperor who has additionally taken Buddhist vows, whereas 上皇 is simply a retired emperor without that religious status.
天皇てんのうN2
上皇 refers to a retired emperor who has abdicated, whereas 天皇 refers to the reigning emperor currently on the throne.

From 上 (じょう, 'above' or 'former') and 皇 (こう, 'emperor'). The term has been used historically for abdicated emperors.