皇上 huángshang the emperor
the emperor; Your majesty the emperor; His imperial majesty
How to remember 皇上: 皇 royal + 上 above = the emperor.
Characters
How it is used
- The emperor (as addressed/referred to by subjects) - 皇上驾到 (huángshàng jiàdào) His Majesty arrives.
- The in-court term of address; you'd hear it constantly in historical dramas from officials and servants.
- Compare 皇帝 (huángdì), the neutral noun 'emperor'; 皇上 is the reverential 'His Majesty' form of address.