Japanese word

母国

Pronunciation

Romajibokoku

Meaning

  • nounhome country

Example

私は母国に帰ります。watashi wa bo koku ni kae ri ma su

I will return to my home country.

Illustration for 母国 (home country)

More examples

海外で暮らすと、母国の文化を改めて意識します。kai gai de ku ra su to bo koku no bun ka o arata me te i shiki shi ma su

Living abroad makes me more aware of my home country's culture.

Core concept

Identifies the country that serves as a person's own national home, especially when contrasted with a foreign country.

Common phrases

  • 母国に帰るbo koku ni kae ru

    return to one's home country

  • 母国を離れるbo koku o hana re ru

    leave one's home country

Similar words

自国jikoku: A person's own country when it is discussed in contrast with other countries.
祖国sokoku: A person's homeland considered as the country to which they have a national connection.
故国kokoku: A homeland remembered as the country from which someone has gone away.

Definition in Japanese

外国に対して、自分の出身または所属する国。gai koku ni tai shi te ji bun no shus shin ma ta wa sho zoku su ru kuni

Word origin

母国 (bokoku) is formed from the Sino-Japanese words 母 (bo, "mother") and 国 (koku, "country"); the compound treats one's country as a closely connected home.

Usage tips

  • 母国 (bokoku) often appears when someone discusses returning to, representing, or staying connected with their own country.

Other meanings

  • homelandnoun

Word lists with this word