国家

• Reading: こっか
• Romaji: kokka
• Kanji breakdown: 国 (koku) — country, nation; 家 (ka/ie) — house, family
• Pronunciation: /kok.ka/

Meaning

State; country; nation. A politically organized body of people under a government.

A noun with a more formal and political nuance than 国 (country). Used when discussing governance, sovereignty, and national institutions. Common compounds include 国家試験 (national examination), 国家公務員 (national civil servant), and 国家予算 (national budget).

Examples

1. 国家試験に合格するために毎日勉強している。 I study every day to pass the national examination.
2. この問題は国家レベルで対応する必要がある。 This issue needs to be addressed at the national level.
3. 国家の安全を守ることは政府の大切な役割だ。 Protecting national security is an important role of the government.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, government, news

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Composed of 国 (country) and 家 (house, family). The metaphor of a nation as a household reflects the Confucian idea of the state as an extended family under a ruler.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal