国 Kanji: Meaning, Readings and Stroke Order

国: country; nation; homeland. JLPT N5; 8 strokes.

Readings

On readings

コク

Kun readings

くに

Romaji

koku, kuni

Study notes

国 means 'country, nation' and also 'region, land of origin'; it appears in many words related to politics, geography and travel.

On readings: コク in 外国 (がいこく, foreign country), 国際 (こくさい, international), 全国 (ぜんこく, entire country), 国民 (こくみん, people, citizens). Before certain sounds it becomes こっ: 国家 (こっか, state), 国境 (こっきょう, border). In compound it can become ごく: 中国 (ちゅうごく, China), 天国 (てんごく, paradise).

Kun reading: くに, 'country, homeland, region of origin' (私の国, my country). In compound it becomes ぐに: 島国 (しまぐに, island country), 雪国 (ゆきぐに, snow country).

Remember: 〜か国 (かこく) is the counter for countries (三か国, three countries). The traditional form of the kanji is 國; in the current form the enclosure 囗 encloses 玉 (jewel).

Example words

• 国民 (こくみん) — citizens; the people; the nation
• 国際 (こくさい) — international
• 国 (くに) — country; homeland

Example sentences

私の国はイタリアです。

watashi no kuni wa Itaria desu.

My country is Italy.

Stroke order

Follow the steps in order. Each new stroke is highlighted.

Stroke paths: KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0. Sequential diagrams derived from the original paths.