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国
“country / nation” in Japanese is 国, read koku, kuni (こく, くに). 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).
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What does 国 mean?
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日本はいい国です。
にほんはいいくにです。Japan is a good country.
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Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 国 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | country / nation |
| Readings | こく, くに |
| Grade | Grade 2 (Easy) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 外国 (foreign country) |
How to read 国
国 is read koku (こく) or kuni (くに) depending on the word.
Words with 国
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Updated: 2026-08-28