great king
Honorific title for a powerful monarch, often used in historical or mythological contexts (e.g., King Arthur, ancient kings). Also used as a respectful term for a monarch.
The legend of King Arthur is still told today.
The great kings of ancient times held immense power.
Alexander came to be called 'the Great' by later generations.
He is revered as the great king of this island.
国王 is the standard modern term for a reigning king of a country, while 大王 is more literary and emphasizes exceptional greatness, often in historical or legendary contexts.
皇帝 specifically means 'emperor', a rank above king, whereas 大王 refers to a great king and does not imply imperial status.
天皇 refers only to the Emperor of Japan, while 大王 is a general honorific for any great king and is not tied to Japan.
longleaf pine
royal palm; Cuban royal palm
giant squid
colossal squid
Standard kanji spelling; used in historical, religious, and honorific contexts.
Compound of 大 (dai, 'great') and 王 (ō, 'king'). The reading だいおう is the standard on'yomi combination.