Japanese word

陛下

Pronunciation

Romajiheika

Meaning

  • nounHis Majesty

Example

陛下がお話しになります。hei ka ga o hana shi ni na ri ma su

His Majesty speaks.

Illustration for 陛下 (His Majesty)

More examples

学校を訪問した陛下は、子どもたちに笑顔で手を振られました。gak kō o hō mon shi ta hei ka wa ko do mo ta chi ni e gao de te o fu ra re ma shi ta

His Majesty, who visited the school, waved at the children with a smile.

Core concept

Identifies a ruler as someone spoken to or spoken about in a highly respectful formal way.

Common phrases

  • 陛下のご健康hei ka no go ken kō

    His Majesty's health

  • 陛下にお仕えするhei ka ni o tsuka e su ru

    serve His Majesty

Definition in Japanese

天皇や国王などを、敬意を込めて呼ぶときや指すときに用いる称号。tennō ya koku ō na do o kei i o ko me te yo bu to ki ya sa su to ki ni mochi i ru shō gō

Word origin

陛下 (heika) contains 陛 (hei, "throne steps") and 下 (ka, "under"), reflecting an old indirect way of addressing a ruler from below the palace steps.

Usage tips

  • The phrase His Majesty's Government in British English names the government formed under the monarch, not a government personally run by the monarch.

Other meanings

  • Her Majestynoun
  • Your Majestynoun

Word lists with this word