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Words Kanji Guides About

天皇てんのう

て

ん

の

う

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

noun

Emperor of Japan

Refers specifically to the Japanese emperor; not used for emperors of other countries.

天皇てんのうは日本にほんの象しょう徴ちょうです。
The Emperor is the symbol of Japan.
天皇てんのう陛へい下かの誕たん生じょう日びは国こく民みんの祝しゅく日じつです。
His Majesty the Emperor's birthday is a national holiday.

Written forms

天皇てんのうUsage100%
Standard kanji spelling for the Emperor of Japan.
テンノウUsage<1%

Kanji

天heavens, sky, imperial
皇emperor

Similar words

皇こう帝てい
皇帝 is a general term for emperor, used for rulers of other countries (e.g., Roman, Chinese). 天皇 is exclusively the Japanese emperor.
天皇てんのう陛へい下か
天皇陛下 is the honorific form used when directly addressing or referring to the emperor with respect.

Etymology

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