本土(ほんど)

ほんど
noun
mainland
1. mainland
The main body of a country's territory, as opposed to islands or overseas territories.
本土(ほんど)に戻(もど)る。
To return to the mainland.
沖縄(おきなわ)から本土(ほんど)へ飛(と)ぶ。
To fly from Okinawa to the mainland.
本土(ほんど)と離島(りとう)では気候(きこう)が違(ちが)う。
The climate differs between the mainland and remote islands.
本土(ほんど)から船(ふね)で島(しま)に渡(わた)るには3時間(じかん)かかる。
It takes three hours to cross from the mainland to the island by boat.
本土(ほんど)では手(て)に入(はい)らないものが、この島(しま)ではたくさん売(う)られている。
Things that you can't get on the mainland are sold in abundance on this island.

本土(ほんど) means the main landmass of a country, as opposed to islands, overseas territories, or outlying areas.

JAPAN CONTEXT:
In Japan, 本土(ほんど) usually refers to the four main islands (本州(ほんしゅう), 北海道(ほっかいどう), 九州(きゅうしゅう), 四国(しこく)) as opposed to 沖縄(おきなわ) or 離島(りとう) (remote islands). This usage is especially common in Okinawa, where people distinguish between 本土(ほんど) and their own islands.

COMMON PATTERNS:

RELATED WORDS:

  • 本州(ほんしゅう): Honshu (the largest of Japan's main islands)
  • 離島(りとう): remote island
  • 内地(ないち): mainland (older term, sometimes used in Hokkaido and Okinawa to refer to Honshu)
core
Added 2026.1.16 16:45 · Revised 2026.6.7 3:06
05500/05500_hondo