母国語(ぼこくご)

Usage

Used when referring to someone's first language, especially in international or multilingual contexts. More formal and precise than 母語(ぼご).

Common collocations

• 母国語(ぼこくご)で話(はな)す: to speak in one's native language
• 母国語(ぼこくご)の教育(きょういく): native language education
• 母国語(ぼこくご)と外国語(がいこくご): native and foreign languages

Similar words

• 母語(ぼご): mother tongue (linguistics term; technically the language acquired first, which may differ from the national language)
• 国語(こくご): national language (refers specifically to a country's official language, or the school subject in Japan)