自国|じこくjikoku[0]heiban (flat)

1. no-adjectiveone's own country
   イギリス人いぎりすじんは自国じこくの詩人しじんを誇ほこりにしている。↗

   England is proud of her poets.

• Synonym母国ぼこくNeutralThe country you were born in; stresses origin, as in 「母国語」「母国に帰る」. 「自国」 focuses on one's own country in contrast with others.
• Synonym故国ここくWrittenWritten term for one's native land, tinged with nostalgia, as in 「故国を偲ぶ」. 「自国」 focuses on one's own country in contrast with others.
• Synonym祖国そこくNeutralCarries patriotic feeling, as in 「祖国のために」; can also mean the country where one's ancestors lived. 「自国」 has no such emotional charge.
• Synonym本国ほんごくNeutralUsed mainly in diplomacy and law, as in 「本国に送還する」; also the suzerain state as opposed to a colony.
• SynonymマザーランドNeutralLoanword for one's motherland or home country; rare in daily use. 「母国」 or 「祖国」 is the usual choice.
• Related生国しょうごくWrittenWritten and rather old word for the land of one's birth; rarely used. Say 「母国」 or 「生まれた国」 in everyday speech.
• Related出生国NeutralThe country of one's birth, used mostly on administrative forms; rare. In daily speech say 「母国」 or 「生まれた国」.
• Antonym他国たこくNeutralA country other than one's own, as in 「他国の文化」; the direct opposite of 「自国」.
• Antonym外国がいこくNeutralA foreign country, as in 「外国人」; the opposite of 「自国」 and the most common word in everyday use.

Use 「自国」 for one's own country set against others, as in 「自国の利益」「自国民」. For the country of birth say 「母国」; with patriotic feeling, 「祖国」; in diplomatic or legal contexts, 「本国」. 「故国」 and 「生国」 are written or dated words for one's native land, and 「マザーランド」 is a rare loanword. The opposites are 「他国」 and the everyday 「外国」.

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

1. 自分じぶんの国くに。自己じこが所属しょぞくする国家こっか。