母国(ぼこく)

ぼこく
noun
motherland; home country
geography
1. motherland; home country; native country
The country where one was born or to which one has a strong national or cultural attachment. Carries an emotional or sentimental nuance compared to more neutral alternatives.
母国(ぼこく)が恋(こい)しい。
I miss my home country.
母国(ぼこく)の料理(りょうり)が食(た)べたくなった。
I started craving food from my home country.
留学(りゅうがく)中(ちゅう)は母国(ぼこく)の家族(かぞく)とビデオ通話(つうわ)をして過(す)ごしていた。
While studying abroad, I spent time video-calling my family back home.

Usage

Carries a warm, emotional nuance — implies affection for one's country. Commonly used by people living abroad when referring to the country they came from.

Common collocations

  • 母国(ぼこく)に帰(かえ)る (return to one's home country)
  • 母国(ぼこく)語(ご) (native language / mother tongue)
  • 母国(ぼこく)の文化(ぶんか) (culture of one's homeland)

Similar words

  • 祖国(そこく): fatherland — more formal and patriotic; often used in political or historical contexts
  • 出身国(しゅっしんこく): country of origin — neutral, factual term used in official contexts
  • 故郷(ふるさと): hometown — refers to one's hometown or region, not necessarily country

Related Words

Synonym: 祖国(そこく) (fatherland (formal))
Related: 故郷(こきょう) (hometown)
Compare: 故郷(ふるさと) (hometown)
Compare: 本国(ほんごく) (home country)
general
Added 2026.3.19 18:59 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
17500/17954_bokoku