also: くにびと · こくにん · くにうど · くにゅうど
noun
indigenous person; inhabitant of a country
Refers to a person belonging to a nation or land, often in contrast to foreigners. Can be used in modern contexts like '国民' but less common.
その島の国人は独自の文化を持っている。
The indigenous people of that island have their own unique culture.
彼はこの国の国人では
He is not a native of this country.
noun
Only with reading くにびと
Specifically read as くにびと; refers to a person from a particular locality or region, often with a sense of belonging to that place.
村の国人たちが祭りに集まった。
The local people of the village gathered for the festival.
noun
local lords and samurai
Historical term for regional warrior elites who held power in their domains, especially during the medieval period.
戦国時代には多くの国人が独立した勢力を持っていた。
During the Warring States period, many local lords held independent power.
noun
daimyo who did not leave his domains to meet the shogun in Kyoto (Muromachi period)
Only with reading くにうど / くにゅうど
Historical term with readings くにうど or くにゅうど; refers to a daimyo who remained in his territory instead of traveling to Kyoto to serve the shogun.
See also: 在国衆
国人の中には、京都に出仕せずに領地に留まる者もいた。
Among the daimyo, there were those who stayed in their domains without serving in Kyoto.