愛国心

• Reading: あいこくしん
• Romaji: aikokushin
• Kanji breakdown: 愛 (ai) — love; 国 (koku) — country; 心 (shin) — heart, spirit
• Pronunciation: /a.i.ko.kɯ.ɕiɴ/

Meaning

Patriotism; patriotic feelings. A sense of love and devotion toward one's country.

A compound noun combining 愛国 (love of country) with 心 (heart/spirit). Often discussed in social studies, politics, and media contexts. Can carry neutral or emotionally charged connotations depending on the speaker's perspective and the historical context.

Examples

1. 愛国心を持つことは大切だが、他国を否定するべきではない。 It's important to have patriotism, but that doesn't mean you should put down other countries.
2. オリンピックの試合を見ると、愛国心が湧いてくる。 Watching the Olympics always stirs up my sense of patriotism.
3. 彼は愛国心の強い人として知られている。 He's known as someone with a strong sense of patriotism.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, social studies, media

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 愛 (ai, love) + 国 (koku, country) + 心 (shin, heart/spirit). A compound meaning 'heart of loving one's country.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal