王

wáng, wàng

一 + 土

Definitions

wáng (noun) king; monarch

wáng (adjective) greatest; strongest of its type

Etymology

Pictograph of an axe head, used as a symbol of the king's military authority.

About

Originally a pictograph of an axe head, 王 symbolized the king's military authority. It is often explained as three horizontal lines representing heaven, earth, and humanity, united by a vertical line for the ruler who mediates between them. The character means "king". 王 also appears frequently as a component in characters related to jade, though the independent jade radical 玉 is distinguished by an added dot.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他是一个国王。

Tā shì yī gè guó wáng.

He is a king.

王子很英俊。

Wáng zǐ hěn yīng jùn.

The prince is very handsome.

女王住在王宫里。

Nǚ wáng zhù zài wáng gōng lǐ.

The queen lives in the palace.

王后喜欢美丽的花。

Wáng hòu xǐ huān měi lì de huā.

The queen likes beautiful flowers.

国王宣布了一个新法律。

Guó wáng xuān bù le yī gè xīn fǎ lǜ.

The king announced a new law.

王子去王国各地旅行。

Wáng zǐ qù wáng guó gè dì lǚ xíng.

The prince travels to various places in the kingdom.

王牌球员在比赛中得分。

Wáng pái qiú yuán zài bǐ sài zhōng dé fēn.

The ace player scores in the game.

国王和王后一起治理着繁荣的王国。

Guó wáng hé wáng hòu yī qǐ zhì lǐ zhe fán róng de wáng guó.

The king and queen together rule the prosperous kingdom.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 一

Component: 土

Example Words