国際

• Reading: こくさい
• Romaji: kokusai
• Kanji breakdown: 国 (koku/kuni) — country, nation; 際 (sai/kiwa) — occasion, edge, between
• Pronunciation: /ko.kɯ.sa.i/

Meaning

International. Relating to or involving two or more countries.

Primarily used as a prefix or modifier before other nouns. Very common compounds include 国際的 (international, as na-adjective), 国際空港 (international airport), 国際交流 (international exchange), and 国際連合 (United Nations). A staple in news and academic writing.

Examples

1. 来年国際会議が東京で開かれます。 An international conference will be held in Tokyo next year.
2. 成田は国際空港として有名です。 Narita is famous as an international airport.
3. 国際的な問題について話し合った。 We discussed international issues.

Usage Guide

Context: news, politics, travel

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 国 (country, nation) and 際 (occasion, edge, between). Literally means between nations — the space where countries interact.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal