田舎(いなか)

いなか
noun
countryside; rural area; hometown
1. countryside, rural area
Areas outside of cities, with fewer people and more nature.
田舎(いなか)道(みち)を歩(ある)く。
To walk along a country road.
田舎(いなか)の生活(せいかつ)は静(しず)かでいい。
Country life is nice and quiet.
祖父(そふ)は田舎(いなか)に住(す)んでいて、広(ひろ)い畑(はたけ)で野菜(やさい)を作(つく)っている。
My grandfather lives in the countryside and grows vegetables in a large field.
2. hometown, home village
One's place of origin, especially if rural.
夏休(なつやす)みに田舎(いなか)に帰(かえ)る。
I go back to my hometown for summer vacation.
お正月(しょうがつ)は家族(かぞく)みんなで田舎(いなか)に帰(かえ)ることにしている。
We make it a point to go back to our hometown as a family for New Year's.
田舎(いなか)から届(とど)いた野菜(やさい)は新鮮(しんせん)でとてもおいしかった。
The vegetables sent from my hometown were fresh and very delicious.
3. provincial, unsophisticated (slightly negative)
Can imply lack of urban sophistication.
あの人(ひと)は少(すこ)し田舎(いなか)っぽい。
That person is a bit provincial.
田舎(いなか)っぽい = rustic, unsophisticated
東京(とうきょう)に来(き)たばかりの頃(ころ)は、田舎者(いなかもの)だと言(い)われた。
When I first came to Tokyo, I was called a country bumpkin.
田舎者(いなかもの) = country person (can be derogatory)
都会(とかい)の生活(せいかつ)に慣(な)れるまで、自分(じぶん)の田舎(いなか)くさいところが恥(は)ずかしかった。
Until I got used to city life, I was embarrassed by my own rustic mannerisms.
田舎(いなか)くさい = unsophisticated, hick-like

田舎(いなか) means 'countryside' or 'rural area.'

Nuances:

  • Can be neutral (rural area) or slightly negative (backward/unsophisticated)
  • When referring to one's own hometown, it's neutral or affectionate
  • Using it about someone else's hometown could be rude

Common expressions:

  • 田舎(いなか)に帰(かえ)る: to return to one's hometown
  • 田舎(いなか)暮(ぐ)らし: country living
  • 田舎(いなか)者(もの): country person (can be derogatory)

Antonym: 都会(とかい) (city, urban area)

Note: The kanji 田(た)舎(や) (rice field + house) reflects the agricultural nature of rural Japan.

Related Words

Antonym: 都会(とかい) (city, urban area)
Antonym: 都市(とし) (city)
Antonym: 大都会(だいとかい) (metropolis)
general
Added 2026.1.8 21:42 · Revised 2026.4.11 10:25
01000/01320_inaka