mainland; country proper; home territory
Refers to the main landmass or central territory, as opposed to islands, remote territories, colonies, or overseas areas. In Japanese contexts it often means mainland Japan as opposed to outlying islands.
It takes one hour by ferry from the island to the mainland.
The typhoon is expected to make landfall on the mainland tonight.
native country; country of birth; homeland
A less common use for the country one comes from or was born in; in modern everyday Japanese, 祖国, 故国, or 生まれた国 are often more natural depending on context.
In older writing, 本土 can refer to the country where one was born, in other words one's homeland.
Pure Land; Buddha realm
Buddhist terminology for a Buddha's land or realm, especially a pure land; this is a specialized religious use and not the everyday geographic meaning.
In this sutra, Amida Buddha's realm is depicted as a pure Buddha land.
The number of people crossing from Okinawa to the mainland has increased.
The typhoon made landfall on the mainland.
This bridge connects the mainland with the remote island.
内地 can mean the mainland or interior with historical or regional overtones, whereas 本土 is the more neutral, general word for a country's main territory.
本国 means the home country or metropolitan state as opposed to colonies, while 本土 more often points to the physical mainland itself.
本土 refers to the mainland or main territory of a country as opposed to its outlying islands or colonies, while 本国 refers to one's home country or country of origin as a whole.
mainlander; person from the mainland
continental United States; mainland United States
mainland China; China proper
mainland Japanese dialects
decisive mainland battle; final battle on the home islands
Sino-Japanese compound of 本, 'main' or 'original,' and 土, 'land' or 'soil.' The spelling transparently supports the meanings 'main land' and, in Buddhist use, a Buddha's land or realm.