天皇 (tennou) Japanese meaning: Emperor of Japan

天皇 (tennou) Japanese meaning: Emperor of Japan | Kotomora

Kanji

皇こう帝てい
皇帝 is the general word for 'emperor' used for rulers of any country, while 天皇 refers exclusively to the Japanese emperor.
帝みかど
天皇 is the standard modern term for the Japanese emperor, while 帝 is a more archaic, literary, or ceremonial word for the same figure.
国こく王おうN2
国王 is the general term for a monarch of any kingdom, while 天皇 refers specifically to the Emperor of Japan.
天皇すめらぎN1
すめらぎ is the archaic, classical-Japanese reading for the Emperor of Japan, while 天皇 (てんのう) is the modern standard term used in everyday and official contexts.
君くん主しゅN1
天皇 refers specifically to the Emperor of Japan, whereas 君主 is a general term for any monarch of any country.

上じょう皇こう
天皇 refers to the currently reigning emperor, while 上皇 refers to an emperor who has abdicated and stepped down from the throne.

天皇てんのう陛へい下かhonorific 尊敬語
天皇陛下 is the respectful, honorific way to refer to or address 天皇, used in formal or ceremonial contexts.

上じょう皇こう
上皇 refers to a retired emperor who has abdicated, whereas 天皇 refers to the reigning emperor currently on the throne.
大だい王おう
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.
皇こう室しつ
天皇 refers to the Emperor himself, while 皇室 refers to the whole Imperial family and institution, so learners should not use them interchangeably.
天皇てんのう制せいN2
天皇 refers to the emperor as a person, whereas 天皇制 refers to the institution or system surrounding the throne.

From Chinese 天皇 (tiānhuáng), originally a Daoist celestial title, adopted in Japan to refer to the emperor.