marquis

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 侯 is associated with lords or noble rank; its on-reading is こう.
• Basic usage: 侯爵(こうしゃく) means marquis, while 諸侯(しょこう) refers to feudal lords collectively.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 侯 and 候
  • The character 候 in 候補(こうほ) is different. 侯 has nine strokes and 候 has ten; they differ by the vertical stroke before the right-hand component.