Related words 自国 is a neutral, standard term for one's own country used in news and everyday contexts, while 我が国 carries a more formal, emotive, patriotic tone.
日本 is the plain, factual name for Japan, whereas 我が国 adds a sense of belonging or patriotism when referring to Japan as 'our country'.
我が国 is a still-current formal phrase for 'our country,' whereas 本朝 is archaic and rarely used outside historical or literary texts.
Written forms 我わ が 国くに
Standard kanji spelling; 我が is somewhat formal or literary.
わが 国くに
Common mixed kanji-kana spelling; the kana わが avoids the formality of 我 .
Etymology Combination of the archaic possessive 我が (わが , 'my/our') and 国 (くに , 'country'). The phrase has been used since classical Japanese to refer to one's homeland.
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