女王

• Reading: じょおう
• Romaji: joou
• Kanji breakdown: 女 (jo) — woman, female; 王 (ou) — king, ruler
• Pronunciation: /dʑo.oː/

Meaning

Queen. A female sovereign ruler or a woman who reigns.

A noun referring to a queen, whether a reigning monarch or a figurative title. Used in historical, political, and cultural contexts. Also appears figuratively in expressions like 美の女王 (beauty queen) and in nature, such as 女王蜂 (queen bee). Note the reading じょおう, not じょうおう.

Examples

1. イギリスの女王は世界中で有名だった。 The Queen of England was famous around the world.
2. 彼女はフィギュアスケートの女王と呼ばれている。 She is called the queen of figure skating.
3. 女王蜂は巣の中で一番大切な存在だ。 The queen bee is the most important member of the hive.

Usage Guide

Context: history, culture, figurative speech

Tone: respectful

Origin & History

Composed of 女 (woman, female) and 王 (king, ruler). The straightforward combination means a female king, i.e., a queen.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal