諸国(しょこく)

しょこく
noun
various countries; various provinces
1. various countries; many nations
A collective term referring to multiple countries, often used in formal or diplomatic contexts. Common in news, academic writing, and historical texts.
ヨーロッパ諸国(しょこく)を訪問(ほうもん)した。
I visited various European countries.
近隣(きんりん)諸国(しょこく)との関係(かんけい)を強化(きょうか)する。
Strengthen relations with neighboring countries.
先進(せんしん)諸国(しょこく)は気候(きこう)変動(へんどう)への対策(たいさく)を急(いそ)いでいる。
Developed nations are stepping up measures against climate change.
2. various provinces (historical)
In historical contexts, refers to the various provinces or domains of pre-modern Japan.
武士(ぶし)が諸国(しょこく)を旅(たび)した。
The samurai traveled through various provinces.
諸国(しょこく)の大名(だいみょう)が江戸(えど)に集(あつ)まった。
Lords from various domains gathered in Edo.
修行僧(しゅぎょうそう)が諸国(しょこく)を巡(めぐ)り歩(ある)いた記録(きろく)が残(のこ)っている。
Records remain of monks who traveled on pilgrimages through various provinces.

USAGE:
A formal word commonly used in news and official documents. Often preceded by a geographic or descriptive modifier: ヨーロッパ諸国(しょこく), アジア諸国(しょこく), 先進(せんしん)諸国(しょこく), 近隣(きんりん)諸国(しょこく). In historical contexts, refers to the old provinces of Japan.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 先進(せんしん)諸国(しょこく) (developed nations)
  • 近隣(きんりん)諸国(しょこく) (neighboring countries)
  • アジア諸国(しょこく) (Asian countries)
  • 諸国(しょこく)を歴訪(れきほう)する (to tour various countries)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 各国(かっこく): each country, every nation — emphasizes individual countries rather than the group
  • 国々(くにぐに): countries — a less formal alternative
general
Added 2026.3.9 15:17
15500/15992_shokoku