国
country
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Treasure (玉) within borders (囗). Territory enclosed to protect treasure.
Symbolism
Nation, homeland, identity. Represents belonging and patriotism.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Thinking of one's country
Component Breakdown
Enclosure + jewel
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一死報国
いっしほうこく
dying for one's country
挙国一致
きょこくいっち
national unity; unity of the whole nation
忠君愛国
ちゅうくんあいこく
loyalty and patriotism
七生報国
しちしょうほうこく
unfailing devotion to one's country; serving one's country for seven lives
国利民福
こくりみんぷく
national interests and the people's welfare
富国強兵
ふこくきょうへい
enrich the country, strengthen the army
異国情緒
いこくじょうちょ
exotic mood; exotic atmosphere; exoticism
尽忠報国
じんちゅうほうこく
loyalty and patriotism
国士無双
こくしむそう
distinguished person; thirteen orphans; winning hand containing one of each terminal and honor tile plus one extra copy of any of them
異国情調
いこくじょうちょう
exoticism
傾国傾城
けいこくけいせい
woman so glamorous as to bring ruin to a country (castle) as its king (lord) is captivated by her beauty; femme fatale
傾城傾国
けいせいけいこく
woman so glamorous as to bring ruin to a country (castle) as its king (lord) is captivated by her beauty; femme fatale
小国寡民
しょうこくかみん
small country with a small population (The Chinese philosopher Lao-tze's ideal of a state)
一国一城
いっこくいちじょう
(possession of) one feudal domain and one castle; being independent (acting without compromise or assistance); establishing only one castle in each feudal domain (edict issued by the shogunate in 1615)
救国済民
きゅうこくさいみん
saving a nation and providing relief to the people
経国済民
けいこくさいみん
governing a nation and providing relief to people
国威発揚
こくいはつよう
enhancing national prestige; expanding national influence
諸国漫遊
しょこくまんゆう
tour around the country; travelling to various provinces
Proverbs & Idioms
国破れて山河あり
くにやぶれてさんがあり
The country is destroyed but the mountains and rivers remain
Nature endures even when nations fall
Anime & Manga
キングダム
Kingdom
Historical epic depicting China's ('country's) Warring States period.
天国大魔境
Tengoku Daimakyo
A well-known work with 国 in its Japanese title.
宝石の国
Land of the Lustrous
A well-known work with 国 in its Japanese title.
憂国のモリアーティ
Moriarty the Patriot
A well-known work with 国 in its Japanese title.
現実主義勇者の王国再建記
How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom
A well-known work with 国 in its Japanese title.
Games
三國志
Romance of the Three Kingdoms(1985)
Developer: Koei Tecmo
Historical simulation set in the Three 'Kingdoms' period.
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
歌川国芳
Name contains 国
Utagawa Kuniyoshi was one of the last great masters of the Japanese ukiyo-e style of woodblock prints and painting.
Wikipedia出雲阿国
Name contains 国
Izumo no Okuni was a Japanese entertainer and miko who is believed to have invented the theatrical art form of kabuki.
Wikipedia安国寺恵瓊
Name contains 国
Yōho Ekei , commonly known as Ankokuji Ekei , was a military monk and a descendant of the Takeda clan of Aki Province.
Wikipedia豊原国周
Name contains 国
Toyohara Kunichika was a Japanese woodblock print artist.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 国 mean in Japanese?
国 means country.
How do you read 国?
On'yomi: コク (KOKU). Kun'yomi: くに (kuni).
How many strokes does 国 have?
国 has 8 strokes. Its radical is 囗 (enclosure).
Is 国 a good kanji for a tattoo?
国 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means country. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:country