全国

• Reading: ぜんこく
• Romaji: zenkoku
• Kanji breakdown: 全 (zen) — all, whole; 国 (koku) — country, nation
• Pronunciation: /ze.n.ko.kɯ/

Meaning

The entire nation; country-wide; nationwide. Refers to the whole country without exception.

A noun used to describe something that spans the entire country. Very common in news, sports, and business contexts. Often appears before nouns as a modifier (全国の) or in compound expressions like 全国大会 (zenkoku taikai, national tournament) and 全国放送 (zenkoku housou, nationwide broadcast).

Examples

1. 全国から選手が大会に集まった。 Athletes gathered for the tournament from all over the country.
2. このニュースは全国で話題になっている。 This news is making headlines nationwide.
3. 全国の天気予報を確認しよう。 Let's check the weather forecast for the whole country.

Usage Guide

Context: news, sports, geography

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 全 (zen, all/whole) and 国 (koku, country/nation). A straightforward compound meaning the entirety of the nation.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal