王 was classically read as three horizontals (Heaven 天, Man 人, Earth 地) joined by one vertical stroke — "the one who links heaven, earth, and humankind is the king." But the oracle-bone and bronze forms reveal something else: the picture of a large ceremonial axe (鉞) resting blade-down. The axe that could execute was itself the emblem of authority. Either way, 王 is "the one who stands at the very top."

Mandarin: wáng, 2nd tone for "king". As a surname it is also wáng — 王 (Wáng) is one of the most common family names in China, borne by close to 100 million people. 国王 (guówáng, king), 女王 (nǚwáng, queen), 王子 (wángzǐ, prince).

Japanese: on-reading オウ (ō), essentially no kun. 王様 (ōsama, king), 女王 (joō, queen), 王国 (ōkoku, kingdom). As a radical, 王 is the left-side form of 玉 (jade), attaching to 珠 (pearl), 球 (ball), 理 (to govern / principle).

Korean hanja-sound "wang": 王國 (wangguk, kingdom), 大王 (daewang, great king — as in 世宗大王, King Sejong the Great). 王 is also a Korean surname.

Memory aid: one vertical piercing three horizontals — the one linking heaven, earth, and humankind, or the great axe of authority.