皇

皇 — emperor

Learn the correct stroke order for 皇 (emperor), a 9-stroke kanji.

JLPT N1Grade 69 strokes

Stroke Order

123456789
Stroke 0 / 9
On'yomi (音読み)コウkou、オウou
Kun'yomi (訓読み)—
Strokes9
Radical白
Frequency#721
Meaningsemperor

Step-by-Step Diagram

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Try Writing It

Practice writing each stroke in the correct order and direction. Start from the green dot.

Draw stroke 1 of 9 — start from the green dot

Common Words

皇位こういimperial thronenoun
皇居こうきょImperial Palace (of Japan); imperial residencenoun
皇后こうごうempress (consort)noun
皇室こうしつImperial householdnoun
皇女こうじょimperial princessnoun
皇族こうぞくimperial family; royaltynoun

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 皇 (emperor) is taught in grade 6 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N1 level. It has 9 strokes with radical 白.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 皇 is #721, making it a frequently used kanji.

Example Words in Context

皇位こうい — imperial throne
皇居こうきょ — Imperial Palace (of Japan); imperial residence
皇后こうごう — empress (consort)

Practice Sheet

Trace then write on your own. Print this row as a PDF practice sheet.

Related Kanji

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 皇 have?

The kanji 皇 (emperor) has 9 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 皇?

皇 follows the standard Japanese stroke order as taught in schools. Use the step-by-step diagram or the "Try Writing" tool above to practice each stroke in sequence.

What does 皇 mean?

皇 means: emperor. On'yomi readings: コウ, オウ.

What JLPT level is 皇?

皇 is a JLPT N1 kanji. This is an advanced kanji.