公爵(こうしゃく)

こうしゃく
noun
duke; prince (peerage)
formalwrittenperson
See also: 侯爵(こうしゃく) (marquis (homophone))
1. duke (highest rank of peerage)
The highest rank in the Japanese and European systems of peerage. In the former Japanese peerage system (華族), 公爵 was the top of the five ranks. In European contexts, it corresponds to duke.
公爵(こうしゃく)家(け)に生(う)まれた。
He was born into a ducal family.
明治(めいじ)時代(じだい)に公爵(こうしゃく)の位(くらい)を授(さず)けられた。
He was conferred the title of duke in the Meiji era.
華族(かぞく)制度(せいど)では公爵(こうしゃく)・侯爵(こうしゃく)・伯爵(はくしゃく)・子爵(ししゃく)・男爵(だんしゃく)の五(いつ)つの爵位(しゃくい)があった。
In the peerage system, there were five ranks: duke, marquis, count, viscount, and baron.

Usage

The highest of the five ranks in the Japanese peerage system (華族(かぞく)制度(せいど)), established in 1884 and abolished in 1947. Also used to translate European noble titles (duke). The five ranks in descending order are: 公爵(こうしゃく) (duke), 侯爵(こうしゃく) (marquis), 伯爵(はくしゃく) (count/earl), 子爵(ししゃく) (viscount), 男爵(だんしゃく) (baron).

Note on homophones

公爵(こうしゃく) (duke) and 侯爵(こうしゃく) (marquis) are homophones — both read こうしゃく — but are written with different kanji.

Common collocations

  • 公爵(こうしゃく)家(け) (ducal house/family)
  • 公爵(こうしゃく)夫人(ふじん) (duchess)
  • 公爵(こうしゃく)の位(くらい) (the rank of duke)

Related Words

Related: 男爵(だんしゃく) (baron (lowest peerage))
general
Added 2026.3.19 13:01 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
17500/17797_koushaku