# 皇 — emperor

皇 means “emperor”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 9 strokes. On'yomi: コウ (kou), オウ (ou). It has no common kun'yomi.

- Meaning: emperor
- On'yomi: コウ (kou), オウ (ou)
- Kun'yomi: —
- Strokes: 9
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Government 1

## How to remember 皇

Sounds like 王: both read オウ.

Parts: 白 white · 王 king

## More in the “Government 1” set

[統](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/unite/) · [監](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/oversee/) · [閣](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/cabinet/) · [票](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/ballot/) · [盟](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/alliance/) · [宣](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/proclaim/) · [皇](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/emperor/) · [帝](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/sovereign/) · [廷](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/imperial-court/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/emperor/. Last updated 2026-11-01.