卿きょう

きょ

う

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

Honorific suffix attached to a name, similar to 'Lord' or 'Sir' in English. Used in formal or respectful address, often in historical or ceremonial contexts.

ウィリアム卿きょうは中ちゅう世せいの騎き士しだった。
Sir William was a medieval knight.
この手て紙がみはジョン卿きょうに宛あてられている。
This letter is addressed to Lord John.

noun

state minister (ritsuryō system)

historical term

Historical term for a high-ranking government official under the ritsuryō legal system of ancient Japan. Not used in modern administrative contexts.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉卿きょうLord/Sir 〈person〉 (attached after a name)
ニュートン卿きょうは万ばん有ゆう引いん力りょくの法ほう則そくを発はっ見けんした。
Lord Newton discovered the law of universal gravitation.

Kanji

卿you, lord, secretary

Related words

公こう sense 1
公 is also an honorific suffix for nobility but is used for dukes or princes, while 卿 corresponds more closely to 'Lord' or 'Sir'.
大だい臣じんN3sense 2
大臣 is the modern term for a cabinet minister, while 卿 is its historical counterpart used under the ritsuryō system.
様さまN3sense 1
様 is the ordinary, everyday honorific suffix attached to almost any name, whereas 卿 is reserved for noble or ceremonial titles.
殿どの sense 1
殿 is a somewhat archaic honorific suffix used in formal letters and official address, while 卿 specifically evokes a title like 'Lord'.
貴むち
貴 is an ancient honorific tied to divine or imperial figures, whereas 卿 is a later title used for high-ranking court officials.

Don't confuse with

郷きょう
卿 and 郷 share the same reading きょう and similar-looking kanji, but 郷 means 'hometown' or 'village' while 卿 is a noble honorific title.

Word family

枢すう機き卿きょう
cardinal (Catholic Church)
公く卿ぎょう
court noble; kugyō · three lords and nine ministers
三さん卿きょう
three secondary Tokugawa branch families

Etymology

The kanji 卿 originally referred to a high-ranking official in ancient China. In Japanese, it was adopted for similar governmental roles under the ritsuryō system and later extended as an honorific suffix for nobility.