Translation guide
How to talk about your native language or mother tongue in Japanese. The most common and natural expressions are 母語 (ぼご) and 母国語 (ぼこくご), but there are important nuances and alternatives depending on context.
To refer to the language you grew up speaking from birth, typically the language of your family or ethnic group.
The most common and neutral term for 'native language' or 'mother tongue'. It emphasizes the language you acquired naturally as a child, often from your mother or family. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts.
私の母語は日本語です。
My native language is Japanese.
母語を大切にしたい。
I want to cherish my native language.
Literally 'mother country language'. Refers to the language of your home country or nation. It implies a connection to a specific country, so it's less suitable if your native language isn't tied to a nation-state (e.g., minority languages). Often used interchangeably with 母語, but can sound slightly more formal or patriotic.
彼は母国語の他に三ヶ国語を話す。
He speaks three languages besides his native language.
Means 'one's own country's language'. Similar to 母国語 but less common and slightly more formal. Used in contexts like language policy or education.
自国語の教育が重要だ。
Education in one's native language is important.
To specify the language learned first, often in academic or technical contexts like language acquisition.
Literally 'first language'. This is the standard term in linguistics and education. It's neutral and precise, focusing on order of acquisition rather than cultural ties.
第一言語と第二言語の違いについて研究しています。
I'm researching the differences between first and second languages.
Also used in academic contexts, but 第一言語 is more precise when contrasting with a second language.
To describe the level of ability in one's native language, often in resumes or self-introductions.
Means 'native level'. Used to describe proficiency equivalent to a native speaker. Common in job applications or language skill descriptions.
英語は母語レベルです。
My English is at a native level.
Means 'on par with a native speaker'. Slightly more casual than 母語レベル. Often used in spoken Japanese.
彼の日本語はネイティブ並みだ。
His Japanese is on par with a native speaker.
To refer to a language spoken at home or by one's family, especially when it's not the dominant language of the society.
Means 'heritage language'. Used in educational and sociolinguistic contexts for languages passed down through families, often in immigrant communities. It implies the language may not be fully fluent or dominant.
継承語としての日本語を子供に教えています。
I'm teaching my child Japanese as a heritage language.
Can also be used, but 継承語 is more precise when the language is not the dominant one in the environment.
母語を維持するのは大変だ。
It's hard to maintain one's native language.
母語 (ぼご) is the most general and common term for 'native language', focusing on acquisition from childhood. 母国語 (ぼこくご) emphasizes the language of one's home country, so it's less appropriate for stateless languages or multilingual countries. 第一言語 (だいいちげんご) is a technical term for 'first language', often used in linguistics to contrast with second language acquisition.
私の母語は広東語ですが、母国語は中国語です。
My native language is Cantonese, but my country's language is Chinese.
The English phrase 'native language' is sometimes translated literally as ネイティブ言語 (ネイティブげんご), but this is not natural Japanese. Use 母語 or 母国語 instead. The word ネイティブ is used as a noun or adjective (e.g., ネイティブスピーカー), but not combined with 言語 in this way.
Native language interference affects second language acquisition.