皇后

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 皇后 is a noun for an empress as the consort of an emperor and is read こうごう.
• Basic usage: It refers to a figure in history, art, or a story, as in 皇后が客人を迎える and 物語の皇后.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Title and person
  • 皇后 names both a position and the person holding it, so the person can be the subject in 皇后が.
• Difference from 女王
  • 女王 denotes the distinct title of a queen regnant, so it should not be treated as interchangeable with 皇后.