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.
母国が恋しい。
I miss my home country.
母国の料理が食べたくなった。
I started craving food from my home country.
留学中は母国の家族とビデオ通話をして過ごしていた。
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:
- 母国に帰る (return to one's home country)
- 母国語 (native language / mother tongue)
- 母国の文化 (culture of one's homeland)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 祖国: fatherland — more formal and patriotic; often used in political or historical contexts
- 出身国: country of origin — neutral, factual term used in official contexts
- 故郷: hometown — refers to one's hometown or region, not necessarily country