palace steps

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is へい, and no kun reading is listed. It has 10 strokes. It appears in words for honorifics for one or two sovereigns.
• Basic usage: 陛下 is read へいか and 両陛下 is read りょうへいか.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 陛下 / 両陛下
  • 陛下 means His Majesty or Her Majesty and is read へいか. It is an honorific for one king or sovereign.
  • 使者は国王陛下からの手紙を読み上げた。 means “The messenger read a letter from His Majesty the King.”
  • 両陛下 means Their Majesties and is read りょうへいか. It is an honorific for two sovereigns together.
  • 劇の終幕で両陛下が並んで広間に登場します。 means “At the end of the play, Their Majesties appear together in the great hall.”