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本郷 (ほんごう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

本ほん郷ごう

ほ

ん

ご

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

Refers to the town or area where one was born or grew up. Slightly formal or literary compared to 故郷 (こきょう) or 地元 (じもと).

彼かれは本ほん郷ごうに帰かえって、両りょう親しんと暮くらすことにした。
He decided to return to his hometown and live with his parents.

Kanji

本book, present, main
郷home town, village, native place

Similar words

故こ郷きょう
More common and emotional word for hometown or birthplace. 本郷 is less frequent and can sound slightly more formal or literary.
地じ元もと
Refers to one's local area or the place where one currently lives or is from, often used in casual contexts. 本郷 specifically emphasizes the place of origin.

Etymology

Compound of 本 (ほん, 'main' or 'original') and 郷 (ごう, 'village' or 'hometown'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning 'one's hometown'.