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.

USAGE (sense 1, country):
Refers to a nation with territory and government.

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

USAGE (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

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

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 2026.10.9 22:43

02000/02204_kuni