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国
国 (readings: こく, くに; Japanese kanji) means “country / nation”. It is a Grade 2 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 2 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 外国 (foreign country).
What does 国 mean?
| Kanji | 国 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | country / nation |
| Readings | こく, くに |
| Grade | Grade 2 (Easy) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 国
国 is read こく or くに depending on the word.
Example words with 国
| Example | 外国 (foreign country) |
|---|
Practice writing 国 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14