Meaning and Usage
"王子" (おうじ) means "prince" in Japanese, referring to a male member of a royal family, typically the son of a king or queen. It is commonly used in historical, fairy tale, and modern contexts involving royalty.
Common Contexts
You will often see "王子" in stories, news about royal families, or metaphorically to describe someone who is charming or heroic, like a "prince charming" figure.
Collocations and Patterns
- 王子様 (おうじさま): a polite or fairy-tale style way to say "prince"
- 王子と王女 (おうじとおうじょ): prince and princess
- 王子の結婚式 (おうじのけっこんしき): prince's wedding ceremony
Register and Nuance
"王子" is a neutral term but can sound formal or literary depending on context. When used metaphorically (e.g., "王子様"), it often implies idealized qualities like kindness or heroism.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "王子" with "王女" (おうじょ, princess). Remember "子" (child) here is masculine in this compound, while "女" indicates female royalty.