How to say "nationality" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 国籍こくせきnounThe ordinary word for a person's nationality, and it also covers citizenship: the legal tie between an individual and a country. Use it when stating, asking about, or filling in someone's nationality.
- 籍せきnoun (suffix)Although it can be glossed 'nationality', this word on its own is seldom what you want for that meaning: it really denotes a register or registry, and for nationality you will almost always want 国籍.
Use 国籍 for nationality in the ordinary sense of a person's legal belonging to a country, including citizenship; 籍 shares the character but on its own is seldom the natural choice for talking about nationality.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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