王子
ōji[o̞ːʑi]
The English word "prince" is translated into Japanese as 王子 (ōji).
王子 is used to refer to the son or male-line grandson of a reigning monarch.
Meaning: son or male-line grandson of a reigning monarch (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 王子 is composed of the characters 王 (king) and 子 (child or son).
Which one should you use?
While 王子 is a general term for a prince, specific titles exist for different roles: Kōtaishi means Crown Prince and Shinnō means Imperial Prince.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
王子 is a formal way to say prince. You can use the polite honorific version 王子様 to make the term more polite or to give it an affectionate, fairy-tale quality similar to "Prince Charming."
How do you pronounce it?
ōji
Did you know?
- If you see the word 王子 in a modern Japanese username or social media handle, it often implies a 'pretty boy' or 'idol' aesthetic rather than actual royalty.
- The word 王子 is also a common place name in Japan, such as the Oji district in Tokyo, which was historically linked to a shrine for a prince.
- In the Imperial Household, the term 内親王 ('naishinnō') is used for a princess, but the 'prince' character 王 is often avoided in official titles for the immediate royal family.
Examples in context
- 王子本人に会ったんだよ。I met the prince himself.This sentence shows how to use 王子 to refer to the prince himself.Tatoeba #10610333 by bunbuku, translation #256311 by CK
- 私が王子様だったらいいのに。I wish I were a prince.This sentence uses 王子 to express a wish to be a prince.Tatoeba #167875 by bunbuku, translation #246623 by CK
- 王子は魔法で木に変えられた。The prince was changed into a tree by magic.This sentence demonstrates the use of 王子 in a sentence involving magic.Tatoeba #188475 by bunbuku, translation #25618 by CK
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a historical drama.
- 蓮 Renあのドラマの王子はとてもかっこいいね。Ano dorama no ouji wa totemo kakkoii ne.The prince in that drama is very cool, isn't he?
- 美咲 Misaki本当。王子がとても優しくて素敵だよ。Hontou. Ouji ga totemo yasashikute suteki da yo.Truly. The prince is very kind and wonderful.
- 蓮 Ren美咲は、もし王子がいたらどうする？Misaki wa, moshi ouji ga itara dou suru?Misaki, what would you do if there were a prince?
- 美咲 Misaki私もその物語のヒロインになりたいな。Watashi mo sono monogatari no hiroin ni naritai na.I would want to be the heroine of that story too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prince” translations and entries 王子, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
