国(くに)

くに
noun
country, nation, homeland
1. country, nation
A territory with its own government.
どの国(くに)から来(き)ましたか。
Which country are you from?
日本(にほん)は島国(しまぐに)です。
Japan is an island nation.
いろいろな国(くに)を旅行(りょこう)したい。
I want to travel to various countries.
この国(くに)の文化(ぶんか)は面白(おもしろ)い。
This country's culture is interesting.
外国(がいこく)に住(す)んでみたい。
I want to try living in a foreign country.
2. homeland, hometown
One's place of origin.
国(くに)に帰(かえ)る。
To return to one's home country.
国(くに)の両親(りょうしん)が心配(しんぱい)だ。
I'm worried about my parents back home.
国(くに)の料理(りょうり)が恋(こい)しい。
I miss the food from home.
国(くに)からの便(たよ)りが届(とど)いた。
I received word from back home.
国(くに)を離(はな)れて10年(ねん)になる。
It's been 10 years since I left my hometown.

国(くに) has two main meanings: a political nation-state and one's home region/hometown.

SENSE 1 - COUNTRY:
Refers to a nation with territory and government.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 外国(がいこく): foreign country
  • 国民(こくみん): citizens, nationals
  • 国際(こくさい): international
  • 国籍(こくせき): nationality
  • 島国(しまぐに): island nation

SENSE 2 - HOMELAND:
In older or literary usage, refers to one's hometown or home region. Common when Japanese people living in cities speak of returning to their rural origins.

EXPRESSIONS:

  • 国(くに)に帰(かえ)る: to return home (to one's hometown)
  • 国(くに)の両親(りょうしん): parents back home
basic
Added 2026.1.9 21:38 · Revised 2026.3.22 9:10
02000/02204_kuni