Onyomi: コク · Kunyomi: くに · Meanings: country
Kanji for country
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Find visually similar kanji, commonly confused characters, related meanings, and useful words connected to 国.
The kanji 国 was originally drawn as a boundary enclosing a symbol of a jewel or precious object (玉). In ancient times, it represented a protected land or territory — something valuable surrounded by borders. Over centuries, it came to mean “country” or “nation,” a place where people, culture, and treasures are held within shared boundaries. 国 reflects the idea of unity, identity, and something precious worth protecting.
A jewel enclosed within a border — 国 means country or nation, a land protected and cherished by its people.
Imagine a shining treasure kept safely within walls — that’s 国, the precious homeland guarded by its borders.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 国 | くに | country, state | common JLPT-N5 Noun |
| 国際 | こくさい | international | common JLPT-N4 Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', Noun |
| 国境 | こっきょう | border (between countries), national border | common JLPT-N3 JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 国民 | こくみん | people (of a country), nation, citizen, national | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 国家 | こっか | state, country, nation | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 国語 | こくご | national language | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 国籍 | こくせき | nationality, citizenship | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 国土 | こくど | country, territory, domain, realm | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 国会 | こっかい | National Diet, legislative assembly of Japan (1947-) | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 国王 | こくおう | king, queen, monarch, sovereign | common JLPT-N2 Noun |