祖 国(そこく)

そこく

noun

homeland; fatherland; motherland

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(そこく)を離(はな)れた。

I left my homeland.

彼(かれ)は祖国(そこく)のために戦(たたか)った。

He fought for his homeland.

長(なが)い海外(かいがい)生活(せいかつ)を経(へ)て、ようやく祖国(そこく)の土(つち)を踏(ふ)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(くに) (country), which is the everyday word for one's home country.

Common collocations

祖国(そこく)を愛(あい)する — to love one's homeland
祖国(そこく)を離(はな)れる — to leave one's homeland
祖国(そこく)に帰(かえ)る — to return to one's homeland
祖国(そこく)の土(つち)を踏(ふ)む — to set foot on one's homeland
祖国(そこく)のために — for one's homeland

Similar words

国(くに) — one's country; everyday, conversational word with no particular emotional weight
母国(ぼこく) — mother country; similar meaning but slightly more neutral and often used in the context of language (母国語(ぼこくご), native language)
故郷(ふるさと)/故郷(こきょう) — hometown; refers to a specific place of origin rather than a whole country

Related Words

Compare: 母国(ぼこく) (mother country)

Compare: 故郷(ふるさと) (hometown)

Compare: 故郷(こきょう) (hometown)

general

Added 2026.5.7 22:08 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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