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皇
皇 (readings: こう, おう; Japanese kanji) means “imperial / emperor”. It is a Grade 6 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 6 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 天皇 (the Emperor).
What does 皇 mean?
| Kanji | 皇 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | imperial / emperor |
| Readings | こう, おう |
| Grade | Grade 6 (Hardest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 皇
皇 is read こう or おう depending on the word.
Example words with 皇
| Example | 天皇 (the Emperor) |
|---|
Practice writing 皇 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14