愛国

• Reading: あいこく
• Romaji: aikoku
• Kanji breakdown: 愛 (ai) — love, affection; 国 (koku/kuni) — country, nation
• Pronunciation: /a.i.ko.kɯ/

Meaning

Patriotism; love of one's country. Devotion and loyalty to the nation.

A noun that can function as a na-adjective (愛国的) or compound modifier (愛国心 — patriotic spirit). In modern Japan, the term carries nuanced connotations, sometimes associated with nationalist movements, so context determines whether the tone is positive, neutral, or critical. Commonly appears in political discourse, education debates, and historical commentary.

Examples

1. 愛国心を育てることと、排外主義に陥ることは全く別問題だ。 Fostering patriotism and falling into xenophobia are entirely separate matters.
2. 彼は強い愛国の念から、戦時中も国内に留まり続けた。 Driven by a strong sense of patriotism, he remained in the country throughout the war.
3. 愛国を掲げた演説が、かえって国民の分断を深めた。 A speech invoking patriotism ended up deepening the division among the people instead.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, history, education, nationalism

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 愛 (ai, love/affection) and 国 (koku/kuni, country). A Sino-Japanese compound widely adopted during the Meiji era as Japan modernised and developed a national identity modelled on Western nation-states.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal