1.
homeland; fatherland; motherland
The country where one was born or where one's ancestors originated. Carries a strong emotional and patriotic tone, often used in contexts of longing, loyalty, or sacrifice.
祖国を離れた。
I left my homeland.
彼は祖国のために戦った。
He fought for his homeland.
長い海外生活を経て、ようやく祖国の土を踏むことができた。
After a long life overseas, I was finally able to set foot on the soil of my homeland.
Refers to one's country of origin with an emotional, often patriotic nuance. More literary and elevated than 国 (country), which is the everyday word for one's home country.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 祖国を愛する — to love one's homeland
- 祖国を離れる — to leave one's homeland
- 祖国に帰る — to return to one's homeland
- 祖国の土を踏む — to set foot on one's homeland
- 祖国のために — for one's homeland
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 国 — one's country; everyday, conversational word with no particular emotional weight
- 母国 — mother country; similar meaning but slightly more neutral and often used in the context of language (母国語, native language)
- 故郷/故郷 — hometown; refers to a specific place of origin rather than a whole country