本国|ほんごくhongoku[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounhome country; one's own country; country of origin
   彼かれの音楽おんがくは本国ほんごくでは人気にんきがなかった。↗

   His music was not popular at home.
2. nounsuzerain country (from the perspective of the vassal state); colonizing country
3. nouncountry of one's ancestors
4. nounthis country

• Synonym母国ぼこくNeutralThe country of one's birth, with emotional overtones, as in 「母国語」; 「本国」 is more objective, viewed against colonies or foreign countries.
• Synonym故国ここくWrittenWritten/formal prose: the homeland one has left, tinged with nostalgia; 「本国」 is more objective, viewed against colonies or foreign countries.
• Synonym祖国そこくNeutralOne's homeland, with emotional overtones, as in 「祖国を守る」; 「本国」 is more objective, viewed against foreign countries.
• Synonym自国じこくNeutralOne's own country, as in 「自国の利益」; 「本国」 can also be used relative to colonies and overseas territories.
• SynonymマザーランドNeutralA loanword for the motherland, rarely used in everyday speech; 「祖国」 is the usual choice, and 「本国」 is the more objective term.
• Related生国しょうごくWrittenWritten/formal prose, rare: the land of one's birth; 「本国」 is the country of one's nationality.
• Related出生国NeutralThe country where one was born; 「本国」 is the country of one's nationality, viewed relative to colonies or foreign countries.
• Antonym外国がいこくNeutralThe antonym on the 「本国」/「外国」 axis: a foreign country, as in 「外国人」.
• Antonym海外かいがいNeutralThe antonym on the domestic/abroad axis: overseas, as in 「海外旅行」.

Use 「本国」 for the country of one's nationality, especially viewed against colonies or foreign countries, as in 「本国政府」 and 「本国送還」. For the homeland with emotional overtones, choose 「祖国」 or 「母国」; for one's own country, 「自国」. Antonyms: 「外国」, 「海外」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 自分じぶんの国籍こくせきがある国くに。
2. 植民地しょくみんちや海外かいがい領土りょうどなどでない本来ほんらいの国くに。
3. 先祖せんぞの出身しゅっしんの国くに。