国(くに)

くに
noun
country, nation, homeland
geography
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.

Compounds

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.

Common expressions

Related Words

Synonym: 国家(こっか) (state, nation (formal))
Related: 外国(がいこく) (foreign country)
Related: 島国(しまぐに) (island nation)
Synonym: 故郷(こきょう) (hometown (sense 2))
Related: 公的(こうてき) (public)
basic
Added 2026.1.9 21:38 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02
02000/02204_kuni