母国|ぼこくbokoku[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounone's home country; one's homeland
   彼かれは母国ぼこくを追放ついほうされた。↗

   He was exiled from his country.

• Synonym故国ここくWrittenWritten style for the land of one's roots, tinged with longing; 「母国」 focuses on the country of birth.
• Synonym祖国そこくNeutralThe country where one's ancestors have lived for generations; 「母国」 centers on where you were born.
• Synonym本国ほんごくFormalFormal term for the country of one's nationality, or a suzerain or colonizing state; 「母国」 carries feeling.
• Synonym自国じこくNeutralOne's own country, set against other countries; 「母国」 highlights the country of birth.
• SynonymマザーランドWrittenA written loanword for one's motherland with a lyrical feel; in everyday speech say 「母国」.
• Related出生国NeutralThe country where one was born, stated plainly; 「母国」 adds emotional warmth, as in 「母国語」.
• Antonym外国がいこくNeutralAntonym: any country other than one's own, standing opposite the birth country 「母国」.

Use 「母国」 for the country you were born in, as in 「母国語」. For the ancestral homeland pick 「祖国」, for a nostalgic written tone 「故国」, for the country of nationality or a suzerain state 「本国」, and for one's own country versus others 「自国」. The opposite is 「外国」.

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

1. 生うまれた国くに。