Refers to the wife of an emperor or a queen consort in a monarchy. Used in historical or formal contexts.
Her Majesty the Empress attended the ceremony.
The painting depicts the empress in her younger days.
王妃 is used for the wife of a king (queen consort), whereas 皇妃 is for an emperor's wife.
Standard kanji spelling for 'empress' or 'queen' in imperial contexts.
Alternate spelling using 后 (empress/queen) instead of 皇 (imperial). Less common but still encountered.
Compound of 皇 (imperial) and 妃 (princess/consort). The alternate form 后妃 uses 后 (empress/queen) instead of 皇.