How to say "king" in Japanese

• 王おうJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)The general word covering king, ruler, sovereign, and monarch. It fits neutral and historical talk about monarchs, without the honorific coloring that 王様 adds.
  彼かれらは王おうの殺害さつがいをたくらんでいる。↗

  They are plotting to kill the king.
• キングCommon
  nounThe borrowed word for the king in chess and card games, and for King in Western personal names. It is not how you refer to a reigning monarch.
• 王者おうじゃCommon
  nounKing in the figurative sense: the champion or dominant power in a sport or field, such as a title-winning team. It can also denote a monarch literally.
  カリフォルニアには有名ゆうめいな大木たいぼく、つまり、いわゆる森もりの王者おうじゃがある。↗

  In California are the famous big trees, or "forest kings" as they are called.
• 国王こくおうJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe formal word for the king of a nation, as used in news reports and official titles for real royalty. It refers to an actual reigning monarch rather than a storybook king.
  国民こくみんは歓呼かんこして彼かれを国王こくおうに迎むかえた。↗

  The people acclaimed him King.
• 王様おうさまJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe respectful everyday word for a king: 王 with the honorific 様. It is the king of fairy tales and children's stories, and a natural polite choice when talking about a king.
  その王様おうさまはいつも王冠おうかんをかぶっている。↗

  The king always wears a crown.

Use 王 as the general word for a monarch, 王様 for the respectful term familiar from fairy tales, 国王 for the reigning king of an actual country, 王者 for a champion, and 「キング」 for chess, cards, and Western names.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 王おうking
• キングking
• 王者おうじゃking
• 国王こくおうking
• 王様おうさまking
• 国主こくしゅking
• 王物おうものking
• 玉将ぎょくしょうking (of the junior player)
• 王将おうしょう(senior player's) king
• 十三じゅうさんking
• 神様かみさまace
• キリking (court card; in mekuri karuta and unsun karuta)
• きりking (court card; in mekuri karuta and unsun karuta)
• 玉ぎょくking (of the junior player)
• Ｋケーking (playing card rank)