1.
hometown, birthplace
The place where one was born or grew up.
故郷に帰る。
To return to one's hometown.
故郷が懐かしい。
I miss my hometown.
故郷を離れて10年になる。
It's been 10 years since I left my hometown.
故郷の友達に久しぶりに会いたい。
I want to see my friends from my hometown after a long time.
大学を卒業して東京に来てから、故郷の良さがよくわかるようになった。
After graduating from university and coming to Tokyo, I came to truly appreciate the good things about my hometown.
READINGS:
- 故郷: formal/literary
- 故郷: poetic/emotional
- Both written with same kanji
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 故郷に帰る: to return home
- 故郷を離れる: to leave hometown
- 故郷が懐かしい: to miss one's hometown
- 第二の故郷: second hometown
RELATED WORDS:
- 地元: local area, hometown (casual)
- 出身地: place of origin (formal)
- 田舎: countryside, rural hometown
KANJI: 故 (old/reason) + 郷 (village/home).