王

See also: 𤣩, 𡈼, 壬, 玉, and 主

王 U+738B, 王 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-738B ← 玊 [U+738A] CJK Unified Ideographs 玌 → [U+738C]

王 U+2F929, 王 CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-2F929 ← 獺 [U+2F928] CJK Compatibility Ideographs Supplement 㺬 → [U+2F92A]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order (Japan)

Stroke order

Han character

王 (Kangxi radical 96, 玉+-1, 4 strokes, cangjie input 一土 (MG), four-corner 1010₄, composition ⿱一土)

1. Shuowen Jiezi radical №5

Derived characters

• Appendix:Chinese radical/玉
• 仼, 㕵, 𡉠, 彺, 忹, 抂, 汪, 狂, 旺, 枉, 𤆦, 𥘛, 𮀍, 𮂴, 𥿁, 蚟, 𧥶, 𧴽, 軖, 𬫃, 𩵭, 迋, 尪, 尫, 㒬, 尩, 𪼷, 䶭, 𮨧, 頊(顼), 鳿
• 兲, 丟, 弄, 𣅨, 𪳈, 主, 全, 𦍌, 呈, 𡭤, 㞷, 𦬬, 𭥕, 𭩜, 皇, 𦊄, 䍿, 𦤃, 望, 𩂊, 聖, 朢, 𭼆, 匡, 囯, 閏(闰), 𪡅, 噩, 𧘦, 㝙, 寚, 㴏, 鬥

References

• KangXi: page 727, character 2
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 20823
• Dae Jaweon: page 1137, character 1
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1099, character 10
• Unihan data for U+738B

• Unihan data for U+2F929

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Chinese

simp. and trad.		王
alternative forms		𠙻

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 王
Shang		Western Zhou	Spring and Autumn	Warring States			Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)		Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Bronze inscriptions	Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Qin slip script	Ancient script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts
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References: Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including: Shuowen Jiezi (small seal), Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions), Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Characters in the same phonetic series (王) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
皇	*ɡʷaːŋ
惶	*ɡʷaːŋ
遑	*ɡʷaːŋ
堭	*ɡʷaːŋ
煌	*ɡʷaːŋ
餭	*ɡʷaːŋ
騜	*ɡʷaːŋ
艎	*ɡʷaːŋ
隍	*ɡʷaːŋ
湟	*ɡʷaːŋ
徨	*ɡʷaːŋ
篁	*ɡʷaːŋ
蝗	*ɡʷaːŋ, *ɡʷraːŋ, *ɡʷraːŋs
凰	*ɡʷaːŋ
偟	*ɡʷaːŋ
媓	*ɡʷaːŋ
韹	*ɡʷaːŋ, *ɡʷraːŋ
葟	*ɡʷaːŋ
皝	*ɡʷaːŋʔ
汪	*qʷaːŋ, *qʷaːŋs, *qʷaŋʔ
尪	*qʷaːŋ
迋	*kʷaŋʔ, *kʰʷaŋ, *ɡʷaŋ, *ɢʷaŋs
逛	*kʷaŋʔ
誑	*kʷaŋs, *ɡʷaŋ, *kʷaŋs
匡	*kʰʷaŋ
筐	*kʰʷaŋ
框	*kʰʷaŋ
眶	*kʰʷaŋ
誆	*kʰʷaŋ, *ɡʷaŋs
邼	*kʰʷaŋ
恇	*kʰʷaŋ
劻	*kʰʷaŋ
洭	*kʰʷaŋ
軭	*kʰʷaŋ, *ɡʷaŋ
狂	*ɡʷaŋ, *ɡʷaŋs
軖	*ɡʷaŋ
鵟	*ɡʷaŋ
俇	*ɡʷaŋʔ
王	*ɢʷaŋ, *ɢʷaŋs
蚟	*ɢʷaŋ
彺	*ɢʷaŋ
旺	*ɢʷaŋs
諻	*qʰʷraːŋ
喤	*qʰʷraːŋ, *ɡʷraːŋ
瑝	*ɡʷraːŋ
鍠	*ɡʷraːŋ
揘	*ɡʷaŋ

The traditional interpretation is that the three horizontal strokes represent Heaven, Man and Earth. The vertical stroke is the king, the one who connects them together. Older representation of the character shows a man like 大 or 天 above a horizontal stroke.

The modern interpretation is that the character is a pictogram (象形) of either an axe or a crown, one of two symbols of the king's power. A ceremonial axe was kept near the throne, and was used for performing rituals in ancient China.

Compare the unrelated 玉 (“jade”) and 主 (“master”).

Etymology 1

Uncertain. There are many proposed etymologies:

• Sagart and Baxter (2009) compare it to Tibetan གོང་མ (gong ma, “superior one”).
• Schuessler (2007) compares it to Tibetan དབང (dbang, “strength, power”) and Burmese အန် (an, “strength, power”), which derive from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *d-baŋ (“strength, power”). However, reconstructing the Old Chinese as *waŋ, he notes the mismatch between Old Chinese *w- vs. Tibetan *b- (unless *dw- can become db-; for possible *b- ~ * w- variation, see 花). He also compares it to Proto-Northern Naga *waŋ (“chief”).
• Schuessler (2007) alternatively proposes a connection to Old Khmer vāṅ, vaṅ (modern Khmer វាំង (vĕəng), “royal palace”), which he considers to be cognate with Khmer ហ្លួង (luəng, “king”). This is perhaps supported by a bronze inscription where 王 refers to a place, not the Zhou king (Shaughnessy, 1991). The semantic shift from "palace" to "king" parallels Egyptian pr ꜥꜣ (“pharaoh”, literally “palace”), from pr (“house”) + ꜥꜣ (“great, big”). The connection to the Old Khmer word would thus relate it to Proto-Mon-Khmer *waŋ ~ *waaŋ (“enclosure; to go round”), which is part of a larger Austroasiatic word family, including 營 (OC *ɢʷeŋ) and 環 (OC *ɡʷraːn). Bodman (1980) connects 王 with 皇 (OC *ɡʷaːŋ, “sovereign”), which Schuessler (2007) connects to this word family.
• Speculations exist about its connection to 尪 (OC *qʷaːŋ, “lame, crippled”) and 狂 (OC *ɡʷaŋ, “mad”), based on theories about the connection between ancient Chinese kingship and shamanism (Keightley, 1995).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): wáng (wang²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄨㄤˊ

  (Chengdu, SP): wang²

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): вон (von, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou, Jyutping): wong⁴

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): vong³

• Gan (Wiktionary): uong⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): vòng

  (Meixian, Guangdong): vong²

• Jin (Wiktionary): von¹
• Min Bei (KCR): uâng
• Min Dong (BUC): uòng
• Min Nan

  (Hokkien, POJ): ông

  (Teochew, Peng'im): uang⁵ / hêng⁵

• Wu (Wiktionary): hhuaan (T3)
• Xiang (Wiktionary): uan²

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Pinyin: wáng
    • Zhuyin: ㄨㄤˊ
    • Wade–Giles: wang2
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: wang
    • Tongyong Pinyin: wáng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /wɑŋ³⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: wang²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: uong
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /uaŋ²¹/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: вон (von, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /vɑŋ²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
    • Jyutping: wong⁴
    • Yale: wòhng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: wong⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: wong⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /wɔːŋ²¹/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: vong³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /vɔŋ²²/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: uong⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /uɔŋ³⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: vòng
    • Hakka Romanization System: vongˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: vong²
    • Sinological IPA: /voŋ¹¹/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: vong²
    • Sinological IPA: /ʋɔŋ¹¹/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: von¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /vɒ̃¹¹/
• Min Bei
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: uâng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /uaŋ³³/
• Min Dong
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: uòng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /uoŋ⁵³/
• Min Nan
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ông
    • Tâi-lô: ông
    • Phofsit Daibuun: oong
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /ɔŋ²³/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei): /ɔŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /ɔŋ¹³/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: uang⁵ / hêng⁵
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: uâng / hêng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /uaŋ⁵⁵/, /heŋ⁵⁵/

Note: hêng5 - surname.

• Wu
  • (Shanghainese)
    • Wiktionary: hhuaan (T3)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɦɯɑ̃²³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: uan²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /uan¹³/

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• Middle Chinese: /ɦʉɐŋ/

Rime
Character	王
Reading #	1/2
Initial (聲)	云 (35)
Final (韻)	陽 (106)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Closed
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	雨方切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ɦʉɐŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/ɦʷiɐŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/ɣiuɑŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɦuaŋ/
Li Rong	/ɣiuaŋ/
Wang Li	/ɣĭwaŋ/
Bernard Karlgren	/iwaŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	wáng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	wong4

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*ɢʷaŋ/

  (Zhengzhang): /*ɢʷaŋ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	王
Reading #	1/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	wáng
Middle Chinese	‹ hjwang ›
Old Chinese	/*ɢʷaŋ/
English	king
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	王
Reading #	1/2
No.	12742
Phonetic component	王
Rime group	陽
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	王
Old Chinese	/*ɢʷaŋ/

Definitions

王

1. king; monarch

   國王 / 国王  ―  guówáng  ―  king (of a nation)

   周成王  ―  Zhōu Chéng Wáng  ―  King Cheng of Zhou

   這位男孩被擁立為王。 [MSC, trad.]
   这位男孩被拥立为王。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhè wèi nánhái bèi yōnglì wéi wáng. [Pinyin]

   The boy was proclaimed king.

2. duke; prince

   王侯  ―  wánghóu  ―  nobles; aristocrats (literally, “princes and marquises”)

   親王 / 亲王  ―  qīnwáng  ―  prince

   秦王李世民  ―  Qín Wáng Lǐ Shìmín  ―  Li Shimin, the Prince of Qin

3. best or strongest of its kind

   拳王  ―  quánwáng  ―  boxing champion

   百獸之王是獅子還是老虎？ [MSC, trad.]
   百兽之王是狮子还是老虎？ [MSC, simp.]

   Bǎishòu zhī wáng shì shīzǐ háishì lǎohǔ? [Pinyin]

   Is the lion or the tiger the king of beasts?

4. chief; head; ringleader

   擒賊先擒王 / 擒贼先擒王  ―  qínzéixiānqínwáng  ―  to defeat the enemy, first catch their chief

5. ^† grand; great
6. ^† (of feudal monarchs) to see the emperor
7. a surname​: Wang; Wong; Ong; Heng

   王勃  ―  Wáng Bó  ―  Wang Bo (Tang dynasty poet)

   王延政  ―  Wáng Yánzhèng  ―  Wang Yanzheng (Emperor of Min)

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (王):

• → Japanese: 王(おう) (ō)
• → Okinawan: 王 (をー) (wō)
• → Korean: 왕 (王, wang)
• → Vietnamese: vương (王)

Others:

• → Classical Mongolian: ᠸᠠᠩ (wang)
  • Mongolian: ᠸᠠᠩ (wang) / ван (van)
• → English: Wang (via Mandarin), Wong (via Cantonese), Ong (via Hokkien), Heng (via Teochew)
• → Manchu: ᠸᠠᠩ (wang)
• → Tagalog: Ong (via Hokkien), Wong (via Cantonese), Wang (via Mandarin)
• → Thai: อ๋อง (ɔ̌ng) (via Hokkien)
• → Zhuang: vuengz

Compounds

Derived terms from 王

• 一字王
• 三冠王
• 三王
• 不動明王／不动明王
• 不犯王法
• 乃心王室
• 二帝三王
• 二朝王醮
• 二王
• 侯王
• 先王 (xiānwáng)
• 內聖外王／内圣外王
• 八王之亂／八王之乱 (Bā Wáng Zhī Luàn)
• 八王日
• 公子王孫／公子王孙
• 冥王 (míngwáng)
• 冥王星 (Míngwángxīng)
• 劃地為王／划地为王
• 劉王／刘王 (Liúwáng)
• 勤王 (qínwáng)
• 十殿閻王／十殿阎王
• 南面為王／南面为王
• 南面稱王／南面称王
• 反王
• 名王
• 后王
• 君王 (jūnwáng)
• 吹牛大王
• 哲王
• 四大天王 (sìdàtiānwáng)
• 國王／国王 (guówáng)
• 土霸王
• 地藏王
• 外王內帝／外王内帝 (wàiwángnèidì)
• 大王 (dàwáng)
• 大王椰子
• 天壤王郎
• 天王 (tiānwáng)
• 天王巨星
• 天王星 (Tiānwángxīng)
• 天王殿
• 天王老子
• 太王
• 女王 (nǚwáng)
• 女王蜂
• 孤王
• 孩子王 (háiziwáng)
• 孫王營／孙王营 (Sūnwángyíng)
• 孱王
• 富比王侯
• 尊王攘夷 (zūnwángrǎngyí)
• 小王子
• 小王爺／小王爷
• 小霸王 (xiǎobàwáng)
• 岱王溝／岱王沟 (Dàiwánggōu)
• 帝王 (dìwáng, “regal”)
• 帝王之道
• 張王／张王 (Zhāngwáng)
• 張王李趙／张王李赵 (Zhāng-Wáng-Lǐ-Zhào)
• 後王／后王 (hòuwáng)
• 恥居王後／耻居王后
• 成者為王，敗者為寇／成者为王，败者为寇 (chéng zhě wéi wáng, bài zhě wéi kòu)
• 托塔天王
• 擒賊擒王／擒贼擒王 (qínzéiqínwáng)
• 敝屣王侯
• 文王課／文王课
• 明王 (míngwáng)
• 昭王墜屨／昭王坠屦
• 曳裾王門／曳裾王门
• 木王
• 朱王堡 (Zhūwángbǔ)
• 東王公／东王公
• 果王
• 梵王宮／梵王宫
• 棋王 (qíwáng, “chess champion”)
• 沒王法／没王法
• 法王 (fǎwáng)
• 活捉王魁
• 活閻王／活阎王
• 海王星 (Hǎiwángxīng)
• 海龍王／海龙王
• 淨飯王／净饭王
• 混世魔王
• 灶王爺／灶王爷 (zàowángyé)
• 無冕王／无冕王

• 燒王船／烧王船
• 牛皮大王 (niúpí dàwáng)
• 牛魔王
• 猢猻大王／猢狲大王
• 猢猻王／猢狲王
• 猴孫王／猴孙王
• 王不見王／王不见王 (wángbùjiànwáng)
• 王事 (wángshì)
• 王人
• 王位 (wángwèi)
• 王佐之才
• 王侯 (wánghóu)
• 王侯將相／王侯将相 (wánghóujiàngxiàng)
• 王儲／王储 (wángchǔ)
• 王八 (wángba)
• 王八羔子 (wángbagāozi)
• 王八蛋 (wángbadàn)
• 王八辮兒／王八辫儿
• 王公 (wánggōng)
• 王公大人
• 王公貴人／王公贵人
• 王公貴戚／王公贵戚
• 王冠 (wángguān)
• 王制
• 王化 (wánghuà)
• 王吉
• 王后 (wánghòu, “queen”)
• 王命 (wángmìng)
• 王命旗牌
• 王商 (Wángshāng)
• 王喬／王乔
• 王喬騎鶴／王乔骑鹤
• 王國／王国 (wángguó)
• 王城 (wángchéng)
• 王大橋／王大桥 (Wángdàqiáo)
• 王女 (wángnǚ)
• 王妃 (wángfēi)
• 王子 (wángzǐ, “prince”)
• 王子喬／王子乔
• 王子店 (Wángzǐdiàn)
• 王子晉／王子晋
• 王孫／王孙
• 王孫公子／王孙公子
• 王官
• 王室 (wángshì)
• 王宮／王宫 (wánggōng)
• 王家橋／王家桥 (Wángjiāqiáo)
• 王家畈 (Wángjiāfàn)
• 王寨 (Wángzhài)
• 王嶺／王岭 (Wánglǐng)
• 王師／王师 (wángshī)
• 王店 (Wángdiàn)
• 王府 (wángfǔ)
• 王度
• 王座 (wángzuò, “throne”)
• 王庭
• 王廟／王庙 (Wángmiào)
• 王建
• 王敦擊壺／王敦击壶
• 王族 (wángzú)
• 王朝 (wángcháo)
• 王條／王条
• 王業／王业 (wángyè)
• 王母 (wángmǔ)
• 王母娘娘 (Wángmǔ Niángniang)
• 王母蟠桃
• 王氣／王气 (wángqì)
• 王水 (wāngshuǐ)
• 王法 (wángfǎ)
• 王海 (Wánghǎi)
• 王漿／王浆
• 王灘／王滩 (Wángtān)
• 王父
• 王爺／王爷 (wángye)
• 王爺府／王爷府 (wángyefǔ)
• 王牌 (wángpái)
• 王瓜
• 王田
• 王留
• 王畿 (wángjī)
• 王祥臥冰／王祥卧冰
• 王綱／王纲 (wánggāng)
• 王義貞／王义贞 (Wángyìzhēn)
• 王老五 (wánglǎowǔ)
• 王老莊／王老庄 (Wánglǎozhuāng)

• 王考
• 王者 (wángzhě)
• 王者師／王者师
• 王者香
• 王英 (Wángyīng)
• 王莊／王庄 (Wángzhuāng)
• 王蓮／王莲
• 王虺
• 王謝／王谢
• 王貢彈冠／王贡弹冠
• 王跡／王迹
• 王道 (wángdào)
• 王集 (Wángjí)
• 王霸
• 王餘魚／王余鱼
• 王鮪／王鲔
• 白飯王／白饭王
• 白馬王／白马王
• 白馬王子／白马王子 (báimǎ wángzǐ)
• 百獸之王／百兽之王
• 百王
• 百花王
• 百谷王
• 盛王
• 目無王法／目无王法
• 相王
• 神聊大王
• 祭王爺／祭王爷
• 禹王 (Yǔwáng)
• 秦王構石／秦王构石
• 稱王封后／称王封后
• 稱王稱帝／称王称帝
• 稱王稱霸／称王称霸 (chēngwángchēngbà)
• 空中霸王
• 空王
• 童天王
• 素王 (sùwáng)
• 老王賣瓜／老王卖瓜
• 聚寶尊王／聚宝尊王
• 舉王／举王
• 花王 (huāwáng)
• 草頭大王／草头大王
• 藥王／药王
• 藥王菩薩／药王菩萨
• 蜂王 (fēngwáng)
• 蜂王乳
• 西王母 (Xīwángmǔ)
• 見閻王／见阎王 (jiàn Yánwáng)
• 親王／亲王 (qīnwáng)
• 覺王／觉王
• 謀王圖霸／谋王图霸
• 賊王八／贼王八
• 越王嘗蓼／越王尝蓼
• 跳灶王
• 輪王／轮王
• 轉輪聖王／转轮圣王
• 郡王 (jùnwáng)
• 錢王射潮／钱王射潮
• 鍾王／钟王
• 閻王／阎王 (Yánwáng)
• 閻王帳／阎王帐
• 閻王殿／阎王殿
• 閻王爺／阎王爷 (Yánwángyé)
• 閻王老子／阎王老子
• 閻羅王／阎罗王 (Yánluó Wáng)
• 阿育王 (Āyùwáng)
• 陸王之學／陆王之学
• 霸王 (bàwáng)
• 霸王別姬／霸王别姬
• 霸王卸甲
• 霸王悲歌
• 霸王略
• 霸王鞭 (bàwángbiān)
• 霸王風月／霸王风月
• 馬明王／马明王
• 馬王／马王
• 馬王堆／马王堆 (Mǎwángduī)
• 魔王 (mówáng)
• 魔王夜叉
• 鳥王／鸟王
• 黑王相公
• 齊王捨牛／齐王舍牛
• 龍王／龙王 (Lóngwáng)
• 龍王埡／龙王垭 (Lóngwángyà)
• 龍王廟／龙王庙 (lóngwángmiào)

Etymology 2

王 (OC *ɢʷaŋ) with a denominalizing *-s suffix (Schuessler, 2007; Baxter and Sagart, 2014).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): wàng (wang⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄨㄤˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): wong⁶
• Min Nan

  (Hokkien, POJ): ōng

  (Teochew, Peng'im): uang⁶

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Pinyin: wàng
    • Zhuyin: ㄨㄤˋ
    • Wade–Giles: wang4
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: wanq
    • Tongyong Pinyin: wàng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /wɑŋ⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
    • Jyutping: wong⁶
    • Yale: wohng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: wong⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: wong⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /wɔːŋ²²/
• Min Nan
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ōng
    • Tâi-lô: ōng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: ong
    • IPA (Xiamen): /ɔŋ²²/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /ɔŋ⁴¹/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /ɔŋ²²/
    • IPA (Taipei): /ɔŋ³³/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /ɔŋ³³/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: uang⁶
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: uăng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /uaŋ³⁵/

---

• Middle Chinese: /ɦʉɐŋ^H/

Rime
Character	王
Reading #	2/2
Initial (聲)	云 (35)
Final (韻)	陽 (106)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Closed
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	于放切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ɦʉɐŋH/
Pan Wuyun	/ɦʷiɐŋH/
Shao Rongfen	/ɣiuɑŋH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɦuaŋH/
Li Rong	/ɣiuaŋH/
Wang Li	/ɣĭwaŋH/
Bernard Karlgren	/iwaŋH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	wàng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	wong6

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*ɢʷaŋ-s/

  (Zhengzhang): /*ɢʷaŋs/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	王
Reading #	2/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	wàng
Middle Chinese	‹ hjwangH ›
Old Chinese	/*ɢʷaŋ-s/
English	be king
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	王
Reading #	2/2
No.	12746
Phonetic component	王
Rime group	陽
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	迋
Old Chinese	/*ɢʷaŋs/

Definitions

王

1. ^† to reign; to rule, to be a king

   • 不以王天下為己處顯。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     不以王天下为己处显。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     Bù yǐ wàng tiānxià wèi jǐ chù xiǎn. [Pinyin]

     He would not desire to rule over the whole world as his own private distinction.

2. ^† Alternative form of 旺 (wàng, “flourishing; prosperous”).

   • 神雖王，不善也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     神虽王，不善也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     Shén suī wàng, bù shàn yě. [Pinyin]

     Though its spirit would (there) enjoy a royal abundance, it does not think (such confinement) good.

Compounds

Derived terms from 王

• 王天下

• 王長／王长

References

• “王”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• “Entry #1229”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (in Chinese and Min Nan), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2011.

---

Japanese

Kanji

王

(grade 1 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: おう (ō, Jōyō)^{←わう (wau, historical)}
• Kan-on: おう (ō, Jōyō)^{←わう (wau, historical)}
• Kun: おおきみ (ōkimi, 王)^{←おほきみ (ofokimi, historical)}; きみ (kimi, 王)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
王
おう Grade: 1
on’yomi

/wau/ → /wɔː/ → */woː/ → /oː/

From Middle Chinese 王 (MC ɦʉɐŋ).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) お​ー [óꜜò] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [o̞ː]

Noun

王(おう) • (ō) ^{←わう (wau)?}

1. a king, especially one who is not East Asian or was East Asian in pre-imperial times

   越(えつ)王(おう)勾(こう)践(せん) ― Etsuō Kōsen ― King Goujian of Yue

2. an East Asian queen regnant

   親(しん)魏(ぎ)倭(わ)王(おう) ― Shingi Waō ― the pro-Wei Queen of Wa

   徴(ちょう)王(おう) ― Chō Ō ― the Trưng Queen

   善(ぜん)徳(とく) (女(じょ))王(おう) ― Zentoku (Jo)ō ― Queen Seondeok

3. an East Asian prince under an emperor

   興(こう)道(どう)王(おう) ― Kōdō Ō ― Prince Hưng Đạo

4. a Japanese prince's son (such princes include 親王 (shinnō) or 王 (ō) themselves)

Usage notes

• An East Asian queen regnant (except in Korea) has the same title as a king, not specifically a “queen (regnant)” like in European languages. Similarly, an empress regnant has the same title as an emperor.

See also

• 女(じょ)王(おう) (joō, female equivalent)
• 親(しん)王(のう) (shinnō, brother or son)
• 大(だい)王(おう) (daiō)
• 皇(こう)帝(てい) (kōtei, “emperor”)
• 帝(みかど) (mikado), 天(てん)皇(のう) (tennō, “Emperor of Japan”)
• 王(おう)家(か) (ōka)
• 大(たい)公(こう) (taikō, “grand duke; European ruling prince”)

Affix

王(おう) • (ō) ^{←わう (wau)?}

1. king

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 王(おう)子(じ) (ōji)
• 王(おう)女(じょ) (ōjo)
• 王(おう)女(にょ) (ōnyo)
• 女(じょ)王(おう) (joō), 女(じょう)王(おう) (jōō)
• 親(しん)王(のう) (shinnō)
• 帝(てい)王(おう) (teiō)
• 女(にょ)王(おう) (nyoō)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
王
こきし Grade: 1
Irregular

Kanji in this term
王
こにきし Grade: 1
Irregular

Alternative spelling
国主

From Old Japanese, apparently from Baekje 鞬吉支 (*k(j)ə-n kici).

Noun

王(コニキシ) or 王(コキシ) • (konikishi or kokishi) 

1. (archaic) an ancient Korean king

   百済(くだらの)王(こにきし) ― Kudara no Konikishi ― King of Baekje

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Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 王 (MC ɦʉɐŋ).

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	ᅌᅪᇰ (Yale: ngwàng)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
	Gloss (hun)	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527[2]	님〯굼〮 (Yale: nǐmkwúm)	와ᇰ (Yale: wàng)
Gwangju Cheonjamun, 1575	긔ᄌᆞ (Yale: kuyco)	왕 (Yale: wang)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [wa̠ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [왕]

Hanja

Wikisource

王 (eumhun 임금 왕 (imgeum wang))

1. Hanja form^? of 왕 (“king; monarch”).

Compounds

Compounds

• 왕국 (王國, wangguk)
• 왕관 (王冠, wanggwan)
• 왕비 (王妃, wangbi)
• 왕조 (王朝, wangjo)
• 왕정 (王政, wangjeong)
• 왕권 (王權, wanggwon)
• 왕족 (王族, wangjok)
• 왕좌 (王座, wangjwa)
• 왕궁 (王宮, wanggung)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [3]

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Okinawan

Kanji

王

(grade 1 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

• On: をー (wō)
• Kun: ちみ (chimi, 王)

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 王 (MC ɦʉɐŋ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /(ʷ)oː/

Noun

王 (hiragana をー, rōmaji wō)

1. a king
2. a East Asian queen regnant
3. a East Asian sovereign prince

Usage notes

• An East Asian queen regnant (except in Korea) has the same title as a king, not specifically a “queen (regnant)” like in European languages. Similarly, an empress regnant has the same title as an emperor.

See also

• 皇 (こー)帝 (てぃー) (kōtī, “emperor”)

Affix

王 (hiragana をー, rōmaji wō)

1. king

Derived terms

• 王 (をー)子 (じ) (wōji)
• 王 (をー)妃 (ふぃ) (wōfi)
• 国 (くく)王 (をー) (kukuwō)

References

• “ヲー” in Okinawa Center of Language Study, Shuri-Naha Dialect Dictionary.

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Old Japanese

Etymology

From Baekje 鞬吉支 (*k(j)ə-n kici).

Noun

王 (*ko₂niki₁si) (kana こにきし)

1. an ancient Korean king

Descendants

• Japanese: 王 (konikishi, kokishi), in modern Japanese dictionaries

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Vietnamese

Han character

王: Hán Việt readings: vương (雨(vũ)方(phương)切(thiết)), vượng
王: Nôm readings: vương, vướng

1. chữ Hán form of vương (“king”).
2. chữ Hán form of Vương (“surname; male given name”).
3. Nôm form of vướng (“to be entangled in; to be involved in”).
4. chữ Hán form of vượng (“to reign”).

Compounds

Compounds

• 王家 (vương gia)
• 王后 (vương hậu)
• 王國 (vương quốc)
• 王朝 (vương triều)
• 王子 (vương tử)
• 海王星 (Hải Vương tinh)
• 女王 (nữ vương)
• 封王 (phong vương)
• 國王 (quốc vương)