• 候補こうほ — candidate
• 天候てんこう — weather
• 気候きこう — climate
• 時候じこう — season, seasonal climate
• 候文そうろうぶん — classical Japanese style of writing
• 居候いそうろう — dependent boarder, lodger

The kanji 候 combines 亻 (person) with the phonetic element “侯.” It originally referred to “watching or waiting” and evolved to carry meanings related to weather conditions or respectfully inquiring about someone’s wellbeing. You’ll often see it in classical expressions and polite writing.

候補こうほの 中なかから 一人ひとりを 選えらびます。
We will select one from the candidates.

気候きこうが 温暖おんだんな 地域ちいきです。
It is a region with a mild climate.

🎧 The on-yomi コウ is the most commonly used pronunciation, especially in compound words. The kun-yomi そうろう is an archaic verb form still seen in historical texts and formal letter writing.