also: ほんこく
home country; one's own country; country of origin
Only with reading ほんごく
Refers to the country a person or thing originally comes from, or the country one considers home. Common in contexts of nationality, products, or returning from abroad.
He returned to his home country after five years.
The country of origin of this product is Japan.
suzerain country; colonizing country
Only with reading ほんごく
Historical or political term used from the perspective of a vassal state or colony to refer to the ruling or colonizing power. Not used in everyday conversation.
The colony was forced to follow the laws of the colonizing country.
ancestral homeland; country of one's ancestors
Only with reading ほんごく
Refers to the country where one's ancestors lived, often used by descendants living abroad. Less common than sense 1 but still encountered in discussions of heritage.
She traveled to visit the country of her great-grandfather.
this country; our country
Used in formal or written contexts to refer to one's own country, especially in contrast to foreign nations. Can sound slightly old-fashioned or bureaucratic.
Under the laws of this country, that act is prohibited.
He finished his work and returned to his home country.
The illegal resident was deported back to their home country.
We are waiting for instructions from the home government.
本国 means one's home country, the opposite of 現地 when discussing staff or residents currently based abroad.