ふるさと Japanese meaning | KotomoraI plan to go back to my hometown for New Year's.
When I hear this song, I remember my old home.
Usage patterns
故郷に帰るto return to one's hometown
I plan to go back to my hometown during the Obon holiday.
故郷を離れるto leave one's hometown
He left his hometown at the age of eighteen.
故郷を懐かしむto feel nostalgic for one's hometown
Living abroad makes you feel more nostalgic for your hometown.
故郷を思うto think fondly of one's hometown
Even though I'm far away, I always think of my hometown.
地
N3
出身地 is a neutral, factual term for one's place of origin used on forms or in self-introductions, whereas ふるさと adds nostalgic, sentimental warmth.
故郷 is a more emotional or poetic word for one's birthplace, while 田舎 can simply mean a rural hometown without the same sentimental weight.
国
N4
故郷 explicitly and emotionally means one's hometown or native place, while 国 can mean home country or home region depending on context.
Usage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; useful for recognition but not recommended for ordinary writing.
故郷Usage<1%
Common kanji spelling for the sentimental or written form of ふるさと. The same spelling also has the Sino-Japanese reading こきょう in a related entry.
