陛
陛·majesty
- On-yomi
- ヘイ
- Kun-yomi
- none
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 陛下 | へいか | His/Her Majesty |
| 天皇陛下 | てんのうへいか | His Majesty the Emperor |
| 皇后陛下 | こうごうへいか | Her Majesty the Empress |
| 両陛下 | りょうへいか | Their Majesties |
Example sentences
天皇陛下がお言葉を述べられた。
てんのうへいかがおことばをのべられた。
His Majesty the Emperor delivered an address.
両陛下が被災地を訪問された。
りょうへいかがひさいちをほうもんされた。
Their Majesties visited the disaster-stricken area.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Writing 階下 (かいか, downstairs) when you mean 陛下
- Using 陛下 for royalty below sovereign rank — princes and princesses take 殿下
Memory aid
Picture it
阝 is a flight of steps, and 比 over 土 is the paired stonework of the palace stairs: you address the sovereign from below the staircase.
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 陛 mean?