mountainous country; land of mountains
Refers to a country or region dominated by mountains. Often used in geographical descriptions or as a poetic epithet for Japan.
Because Japan is a mountainous country, it has little flat land.
Switzerland is also known as a mountainous country.
Compound of 山 (yama, 'mountain') and 国 (kuni, 'country'), with rendaku voicing of くに to ぐに.