How to say "sovereign" in Japanese

• 王おうJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)Covers the basic sense of a king or male monarch. The plainest word for a sovereign who bears the title of king, and often the best choice when the English text simply says 'king' or 'ruler'.
  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.
• 帝王ていおうCommon
  nounA sovereign with connotations of an emperor — a grand, commanding ruler rather than an ordinary king. Fits an 'emperor'-type sovereign and often carries an imposing or elevated nuance.
  株かぶでやられるまで彼かれは証券市場しょうけんしじょうの帝王ていおうでしたよ。↗

  He was a stock-market tycoon until the bears got him.
• 君主くんしゅJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe general, neutral term for a monarch or sovereign as a category of ruler, covering kings and emperors alike. Use it when discussing monarchy or a sovereign as such rather than one specific person.
  その君主くんしゅは臣民しんみんに対たいして絶対ぜったいの支配権しはいけんを持もっていた。↗

  The lord held absolute power over his subjects.
• 元首げんしゅJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounMeans the head of state — the person in whom a state's sovereignty is vested. Best for the political or diplomatic sense of 'sovereign', as in meetings between heads of state.
• 国王こくおうJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounRefers to the king (or queen) of a particular country. Choose it when you want to say the sovereign of a named nation, as in the king of a country; it is less suitable for 'sovereign' in the abstract sense.
  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.

Use 王 for a king, 君主 or 元首 for a monarch or head of state in general, 帝王 for an emperor-like sovereign, and 国王 when referring to the king of a specific country.

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

• 王おうking
• 帝王ていおうsovereign
• 君主くんしゅmonarch
• 元首げんしゅsovereign
• 国王こくおうking
• 人君じんくんsovereign
• 主権者しゅけんしゃsovereign
• 国主こくしゅking
• 統治者とうちしゃthe ruler
• 国君こっくんruler of a country
• 君きみmonarch