(しょこく)

しょこく
noun
various countries; various provinces
formalgeography
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.
I visited various European countries.
Strengthen relations with neighboring countries.
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)諸国(しょこく)(たび)した
The samurai traveled through various provinces.
Lords from various domains gathered in Edo.
修行僧(しゅぎょうそう)諸国(しょこく)(めぐ)(ある)いた記録(きろく)(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

Similar words