皇后(こうごう)

こうごう
noun
empress; queen consort
formalperson
1. empress; queen consort
The wife of an emperor. In the Japanese context, the wife of the reigning Emperor of Japan.
皇后(こうごう)陛下(へいか)がお言葉(ことば)を述(の)べられた。
Her Majesty the Empress delivered a speech.
天皇(てんのう)と皇后(こうごう)が被災地(ひさいち)を訪問(ほうもん)された。
The Emperor and Empress visited the disaster-affected area.
皇后(こうごう)は国際(こくさい)親善(しんぜん)のために海外(かいがい)を訪問(ほうもん)されることもある。
The Empress sometimes visits foreign countries for the purpose of international goodwill.

皇后(こうごう) refers specifically to the wife of a reigning emperor. In Japan, the full formal title is 皇后(こうごう)陛下(へいか) (Her Majesty the Empress).

Related words

When speaking about the imperial family, honorific language (敬語(けいご)) is typically used. Verbs describing the empress's actions use special respectful forms such as 〜される or 〜になる.

Related Words

Related: 妃(きさき) (empress consort (classical/literary))
Related: 天皇(てんのう) (Emperor of Japan)
Related: 皇太子(こうたいし) (Crown Prince)
Related: 女王(じょおう) (queen)
Compare: 王后(おうごう) (queen consort)
general
Added 2026.3.12 11:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
16000/16354_kougou