noun
The basic modern meaning: a politically organized country or state. In ordinary speech 国 is broader and more everyday than 国家.
日本は島国です。
Japan is an island country.
彼はいろいろな国を旅してきた。
He has traveled through many countries.
noun
Used more broadly for a land or region, especially in descriptive compounds or somewhat literary expressions rather than as an administrative term.
雪国では冬の暮らしに工夫がいる。
In snowy regions, winter life takes some ingenuity.
山を越えると、言葉も習慣も違う国だった。
Beyond the mountains was a land with different speech and customs.
noun
national government; central government
Refers to the state as an actor, especially the national or central government, as opposed to local governments or private organizations.
この道路は国が管理している。
This road is managed by the national government.
国は新しい支援策を発表した。
The government announced new support measures.
noun
Used from the speaker's or subject's viewpoint for the place one belongs to or comes from. 国に帰る commonly means returning to one's home country; for a hometown within Japan, 故郷 or 田舎 is often more explicit.
留学が終わったら国に帰ります。
When my study abroad ends, I will return to my home country.
彼女は国の家族に毎週電話している。
She calls her family back home every week.
noun
province of old Japan
Historical term for a premodern Japanese province, as in 武蔵国 or 山城国. This is tied to older administrative divisions, not modern prefectures.
See also: 国郡里制
武蔵国は現在の東京・埼玉あたりにあった。
Musashi Province was in the area of present-day Tokyo and Saitama.
古い文書には「山城国」と書かれている。
The old document says “Yamashiro Province.”
noun
Archaic or mythological use for land or earth itself, rather than a modern country. It is now mainly encountered in old texts, mythology, or explanations of fixed expressions.
神話の「国生み」では、国は大地や島を指す。
In the mythological term 国生み, 国 refers to land or islands.
Outdated kyūjitai form of 国; encountered in older texts, names, and traditional-looking writing.
A more formal word for a nation or state as a political entity; 国 is the everyday word.
Specifically means government; 国 can refer to the national government in context but also means country or homeland.
A clearer modern word for a region or locality; 国 as region is broader, more literary, or often found in compounds.
Means one's hometown or native place more explicitly and emotionally; 国 can mean home country or home region depending on context.
くに is a native Japanese word. 国 is the standard modern kanji spelling, with 國 as its older kyūjitai form; 邦 is another kanji meaning country but is literary as a standalone くに spelling. The deeper historical derivation of the native word is uncertain.