empress

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 后 denotes a queen consort or empress; its kun-reading is きさき.
• Basic usage: 王后, read おうごう, means a queen or royal consort; 皇后, read こうごう, means an empress.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Queen consort and empress
  • 王后 is a title for a king's spouse, while 皇后 is a title for an emperor's spouse.
  • 后 is read ごう in both words.