This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A2 noun 9 min read

故郷

furusato

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 故郷 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 故郷 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of '故郷' (kokyou) as a way to say 'hometown.' While beginners usually learn the word 'shusshin' (origin) first to say where they are from, '故郷' is a great word to add when you want to sound more natural or talk about your feelings for your home. You might use it in a simple sentence like 'My hometown is London.' You don't need to worry about the complex emotional nuances yet; just treat it as a noun that identifies where you were born. Focus on the reading 'kokyou' for now, as it's the standard reading you'll find in textbooks. Remember that in Japanese, you don't usually say 'my hometown' as often as in English; you just name the place. But if someone asks about your 'kokyou,' they are asking about the city or town where you grew up.

At the A2 level, you can start using '故郷' to talk about simple actions like going back home for a holiday. You will likely learn the verb 'kaeru' (to return), and '故郷に帰る' (return to one's hometown) is a very common phrase. You can also use simple adjectives to describe it, like '故郷は静かです' (My hometown is quiet) or '故郷はきれいです' (My hometown is beautiful). This is the level where you might encounter the 'furusato' reading in songs or simple stories. It's important to distinguish '故郷' from 'ie' (house). If you say 'I'm going to my kokyou,' it means you are traveling back to your home city, not just walking to your apartment. You are beginning to express simple nostalgia or plans to visit your family.

At the B1 level, you should understand the deeper emotional meaning of '故郷.' You can use it to describe memories and changes. For example, '故郷の山を思い出す' (I remember the mountains of my hometown). You might start noticing that people use 'furusato' when they want to sound sentimental and 'kokyou' in more general contexts. You can also use the word to talk about 'second hometowns' (第二の故郷) if you've lived in Japan or another place for a long time. At this level, you should be able to explain what your hometown is famous for using '故郷' as a subject. You are moving beyond simple facts to expressing a personal connection to the place of your upbringing.

At the B2 level, you can use '故郷' in discussions about social issues, such as the 'U-turn' phenomenon or rural depopulation. You should be comfortable with the reading 'kokyou' in formal reports and 'furusato' in literary or cultural discussions. You can use complex structures like '故郷を離れて以来' (Since leaving my hometown) or '故郷に錦を飾る' (To return home in glory/success). You understand that '故郷' is a powerful rhetorical tool in Japanese politics and marketing. You can also compare '故郷' with synonyms like 'kyouri' or 'shusshinchi' and choose the correct register depending on whether you are writing an essay, giving a speech, or chatting with friends.

At the C1 level, you have a nuanced grasp of '故郷' as a literary and philosophical concept. You can discuss how the idea of 'furusato' has been used to construct Japanese national identity. You are familiar with its use in classical and modern literature (like the works of Natsume Soseki or Ishikawa Takuboku) and can interpret the 'furusato' trope in films and media. You can use the word to discuss abstract concepts like 'spiritual home' or 'the loss of home' in the modern world. Your usage of 'kokyou' vs 'furusato' is precise, and you can use the word effectively in high-level academic writing or professional speeches to evoke specific emotional responses from your audience.

At the C2 level, '故郷' is a tool for sophisticated expression. You can engage in deep cultural criticism regarding the 'furusato' myth in Japan. You understand the historical evolution of the word and its kanji. You can use '故郷' in complex metaphors and are aware of its most obscure idiomatic uses. You can effortlessly switch between readings to suit the rhythmic and tonal requirements of a speech or a piece of creative writing. You might use the word to explore themes of displacement, globalization, and the changing definition of 'home' in a borderless world, all while maintaining perfect linguistic and cultural register.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

故郷 in 30 Seconds

故郷 (Kokyou/Furusato) refers to one's hometown or birthplace, carrying deep emotional and cultural significance in Japan.
It has two readings: 'kokyou' for formal/literary contexts and 'furusato' for nostalgic or poetic expressions.
Commonly used with verbs like 'kaeru' (return) and 'hanareru' (leave), it symbolizes identity and roots.
It is distinct from 'jimoto' (local area) and 'jikka' (parents' house), focusing on the broader place of origin.

The word 故郷 is a cornerstone of the Japanese emotional landscape, representing far more than just a geographical location of birth. In its most literal sense, it refers to one's hometown or birthplace. However, the cultural weight it carries is immense, often evoking a deep sense of nostalgia, belonging, and the simplicity of childhood. In Japanese, this word has two primary readings: kokyou (the formal, Sino-Japanese reading) and furusato (the native Japanese reading). While they share the same kanji, furusato is significantly more common in poetic, musical, and sentimental contexts, whereas kokyou often appears in literature, formal speeches, or news reports regarding regional issues.

The Kanji Breakdown: The first character 故 (ko) means 'old,' 'former,' or 'deceased.' It implies something that has passed or a state that existed previously. The second character 郷 (kyou/sato) means 'village,' 'district,' or 'home.' Together, they literally translate to 'the old village' or 'the place of one's origin.'
Emotional Resonance: For many Japanese people, the furusato represents a lost pastoral ideal—green mountains, clear streams, and tight-knit community bonds—even if their actual birthplace was a concrete urban sprawl. This concept is central to the Japanese identity, especially for those who moved to mega-cities like Tokyo or Osaka for work. It is the place one 'returns' to during the Obon or New Year holidays.

いつか故郷に帰って、のんびりと暮らしたいです。
Someday I want to return to my hometown and live a relaxed life.

The word is frequently used in the context of 'returning home' (帰省 - kisei). Unlike the word 'ie' (house), which refers to the physical structure, or 'kazoku' (family), 故郷 encompasses the entire environment of one's upbringing—the smells, the local dialect, the childhood friends, and the landscape. It is often personified in songs and poems as a mother-like figure that waits for the wanderer's return. In modern Japan, where rural depopulation is a major social issue, the word 故郷 also carries a tinge of sadness or concern for the disappearance of traditional lifestyles.

彼は故郷を離れて二十年になる。
It has been twenty years since he left his hometown.

Reading Nuance: Kokyou vs Furusato: If you are reading a news article about urban migration, you will likely see 'kokyou.' If you are listening to a folk song or a politician appealing to the hearts of voters, you will hear 'furusato.' In casual conversation, people often use 'jimoto' (local area) instead, as 'kokyou' can sound slightly dramatic or literary.

遠く離れていても、故郷の空を思い出す。
Even when far away, I remember the sky of my hometown.

Using 故郷 correctly requires understanding its role as a noun and its specific collocations. It is most frequently used with verbs of movement (returning, leaving) or verbs of cognition (remembering, missing). Because it is a noun, it can be modified by adjectives to describe the nature of one's hometown.

Common Verb Pairings

故郷に帰る (Kokyou ni kaeru): To return to one's hometown. This is the most standard usage, often implying a visit during holidays.
故郷を離れる (Kokyou o hanareru): To leave one's hometown, usually for work or study.
故郷を懐かしむ (Kokyou o natsukashimu): To feel nostalgic for or to miss one's hometown.
故郷を捨てる (Kokyou o suteru): A stronger expression meaning to abandon or turn one's back on one's hometown.

都会での生活に疲れ、故郷の静かな生活が恋しくなった。
Tired of city life, I began to long for the quiet life of my hometown.

When describing the 故郷, speakers often use evocative adjectives like 'beautiful' (美しい), 'distant' (遠い), or 'second' (第二の). The phrase '第二の故郷' (daini no kokyou) is particularly useful; it refers to a place where you have lived for a long time and feel a strong connection to, even if you weren't born there. For example, an expat might call Tokyo their 'second hometown.'

私にとって、京都は第二の故郷です。
To me, Kyoto is my second hometown.

Grammatical Structures: 1. [Place] は私の故郷です: [Place] is my hometown. (Simple identification)
2. 故郷の [Noun]: [Noun] of the hometown. (e.g., 故郷の味 - the taste of home/hometown food)
3. 故郷での [Noun]: [Noun] in the hometown. (e.g., 故郷での思い出 - memories in the hometown)

In formal writing, such as essays or speeches, 故郷 often serves as a thematic anchor. A writer might discuss the 'changing face of the 故郷' (変わりゆく故郷) to lament how modernization has altered their birthplace. In these contexts, the word functions as a symbol of identity and the passage of time.

十年ぶりに訪れた故郷は、すっかり変わってしまっていた。
The hometown I visited for the first time in ten years had changed completely.

The word 故郷 is ubiquitous in Japanese media, appearing in contexts ranging from the deeply traditional to the modern and political. Understanding where you will encounter it helps in grasping its emotional weight.

In Music and Songs: Perhaps the most famous usage is the children's song 'Furusato' (Rabbit chasing on that mountain...). This song is taught to every school child and is often sung at graduation ceremonies or when Japanese people gather abroad. It solidifies the image of the 'furusato' as a place of mountains (yama) and rivers (kawa). Enka music (traditional-style ballads) also heavily features the theme of longing for one's 故郷 after moving to the city.
In News and Social Issues: You will hear the term 'Kokyou-shoumei' (hometown lighting) or discussions about 'Kokyou no saisei' (revitalization of hometowns). In news reports about the 'U-turn' phenomenon—where young people move back to their rural hometowns after working in the city—the term 故郷 is used to emphasize the return to roots.

「故郷」という歌を聴くと、涙が出そうになります。
When I hear the song 'Furusato,' I feel like I'm going to cry.

In television dramas and movies, a character might say, 'I'm going back to my 故郷' to signal a major life change, such as giving up on a dream in Tokyo or deciding to take over the family farm. It is a word that marks a transition from a 'temporary' life in the city back to an 'authentic' life at home.

彼は故郷の英雄として迎えられた。
He was welcomed back as a hero of his hometown.

Literature is another major domain for this word. Famous poets like Ishikawa Takuboku wrote extensively about the bittersweet pain of remembering one's 故郷. In these high-literary contexts, the word is almost always 'kokyou' and represents an unreachable past. In sports, commentators will often mention an athlete's 故郷 to build a narrative of local pride, especially during the Koshien high school baseball tournament.

私の故郷は、雪深い小さな村です。
My hometown is a small village deep in the snow.

While 故郷 is a relatively straightforward word, learners often confuse it with other terms related to 'home' or 'location.' Understanding the boundaries of its meaning is key to sounding natural.

1. Confusion with 'Jimoto' (地元): This is the most common mistake. 'Jimoto' refers to the 'local area' where you currently live or where you grew up. It is much more casual and practical. If you are talking about going to a local bar, you use 'jimoto.' If you are talking about the place that shaped your soul, you use 'kokyou.' Using 'kokyou' in a casual conversation about buying groceries would sound bizarrely poetic.
2. Confusion with 'Ie' (家) or 'Uchi' (うち): 'Ie' is the physical building. 'Uchi' is the household or 'my place.' You cannot say 'I'm going to my 故郷' when you just mean you are going back to your apartment after work. 故郷 refers to the town or region of your origin, not your current residence.

❌ 学校が終わったら、故郷に帰ります。
Correct: うちに帰ります。 (I'm going home after school.)

Another mistake is using 'kokyou' for someone else's hometown in a way that sounds too intimate. While it's not grammatically wrong to ask 'Where is your 故郷?', it can feel a bit heavy. For a standard 'Where are you from?' question, 'Go-shusshin wa?' (Your origin?) is much more common and polite.

3. Overusing the 'Furusato' Reading: While 'furusato' is beautiful, using it in a formal business report about regional development might make the report seem too emotional or amateurish. In academic or professional writing, stick to 'kokyou.'

✅ 統計によると、多くの若者が故郷（こきょう）を離れている。
According to statistics, many young people are leaving their hometowns.

Japanese has several words that overlap with 故郷. Choosing the right one depends on the level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey.

地元 (Jimoto): This is 'one's local area.' It is very common in daily speech. 'Jimoto no tomodachi' (friends from back home) is much more natural than 'kokyou no tomodachi' in a casual chat.
出身地 (Shusshinchi): This is a technical/administrative term meaning 'place of origin.' You see this on forms, resumes, and in self-introductions. It is neutral and lacks the emotional 'warmth' of 故郷.
実家 (Jikka): This refers specifically to 'one's parents' home.' When people say they are 'going back to my hometown' for the weekend, they almost always use 'jikka ni kaeru.'
郷里 (Kyouri): A more formal, slightly dated synonym for kokyou. You might see this in older literature or very formal letters.

私の出身地は大阪ですが、心はいつも故郷の北海道にあります。
My place of origin is Osaka, but my heart is always with my hometown of Hokkaido.

The choice between these words often signals your relationship with the place. Using 故郷 suggests a deep, perhaps slightly idealized, connection. Using shusshinchi is just stating a fact. Using jikka is about the physical house where your parents live. If you want to sound like a local who is proud of their area, use jimoto.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The reading 'furusato' is a 'kun-yomi' (native) interpretation of the kanji, emphasizing the 'furu' (old) and 'sato' (village) roots, which predates the formal 'kokyou' reading in emotional usage.

Pronunciation Guide

UK koʊ.kjoʊ

US koʊ.kjoʊ

The stress is relatively even, but there is a slight pitch drop from 'ko' to 'kyou' in standard Japanese (Heiban or Atamadaka depending on dialect).

Rhymes With

Tokyo (東京) Bunkyo (文京) Doukyou (同郷) Koukyou (公共) Shoukyou (商況) Kaikyou (海峡) Saikyou (最強) Heikyou (閉境)

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'kokyo' with a short final 'o'.
Confusing the reading with 'furusato' in formal contexts.
Misplacing the 'u' sound (e.g., 'koukyo').
Over-stressing the second syllable.
Merging the 'ky' sound into a simple 'k'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Kanji are common but the dual reading (kokyou/furusato) can be tricky.

Writing 3/5

The kanji 郷 is slightly complex for beginners to write correctly.

Speaking 2/5

Easy to pronounce, but choosing the right register is important.

Listening 2/5

Very common in songs and news; easy to recognize.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

家 (Ie) 町 (Machi) 帰る (Kaeru) 生まれる (Umareru) どこ (Doko)

Learn Next

出身 (Shusshin) 地元 (Jimoto) 懐かしい (Natsukashii) 過疎化 (Kasoka) 活性化 (Kasseika)

Advanced

郷愁 (Kyoushuu) 望郷 (Boukyou) 土着 (Dochaku) 辺境 (Henkyou)

Grammar to Know

Noun + は [Place] です

故郷はニューヨークです。

Noun + に帰る

故郷に帰る。

Noun + を懐かしむ

故郷を懐かしむ。

Noun + の + Noun

故郷の空。

Noun + で + Verb

故郷で暮らす。

Examples by Level

私の故郷は小さい町です。

My hometown is a small town.

Subject (故郷) + wa + Adjective + Noun + desu.

故郷はどこですか？

Where is your hometown?

Simple question using 'doko' (where).

故郷は北海道です。

My hometown is Hokkaido.

Direct identification of a place.

故郷の食べ物は美味しいです。

The food from my hometown is delicious.

Using 'no' to show possession/origin.

故郷に帰ります。

I am going back to my hometown.

Particle 'ni' indicates the destination of 'kaeru'.

きれいな故郷ですね。

It's a beautiful hometown, isn't it?

Adjective 'kirei-na' modifying the noun.

故郷に家族がいます。

My family is in my hometown.

Using 'ni' for location and 'imasu' for existence.

故郷が好きです。

I like my hometown.

The object of 'suki' takes the particle 'ga'.

夏休みに故郷へ帰る予定です。

I plan to go back to my hometown during summer vacation.

Using 'yotei' to express a plan.

故郷の友達に会いたいです。

I want to see my friends from my hometown.

Verb stem + tai (desirative form).

故郷は海が近くて、魚が美味しいです。

My hometown is near the sea, so the fish is delicious.

Using the 'te' form to connect reasons.

私の故郷は、東京から遠いです。

My hometown is far from Tokyo.

Using 'kara' (from) and 'tooi' (far).

故郷で有名な祭りは何ですか？

What is a famous festival in your hometown?

Using 'de' to indicate location of an action/event.

故郷の両親に電話をしました。

I called my parents in my hometown.

Past tense of 'shimasu'.

冬の故郷はとても寒いです。

My hometown is very cold in winter.

Noun modification with 'no' for time/season.

故郷の写真を友達に見せました。

I showed photos of my hometown to my friend.

Transitive verb 'misemasu' (to show).

都会で働いていますが、心はいつも故郷にあります。

I work in the city, but my heart is always in my hometown.

Contrastive 'ga' (but).

故郷の風景は、子供の頃と変わっていません。

The scenery of my hometown hasn't changed since I was a child.

Negative 'te-iru' form for state.

日本は私にとって、第二の故郷になりました。

Japan has become a second hometown for me.

Noun + ni naru (to become).

故郷を離れてから、その良さに気づきました。

I realized how good my hometown was after I left it.

V-te kara (after doing V).

故郷の言葉を聞くと、懐かしい気持ちになります。

When I hear my hometown's dialect, I feel nostalgic.

Conditional 'to' (when/if).

彼は故郷の発展のために、一生懸命働いています。

He is working hard for the development of his hometown.

Noun + no tame ni (for the sake of).

故郷に帰るたびに、新しいビルが増えています。

Every time I go back to my hometown, there are more new buildings.

V-u tabi ni (every time I V).

故郷の誇りを持って、試合に臨みます。

I will go into the match with the pride of my hometown.

Noun + o motte (with/carrying).

故郷の過疎化が進んでいることに、危機感を感じる。

I feel a sense of crisis about the advancing depopulation of my hometown.

Nominalizing a sentence with 'koto'.

彼は故郷に錦を飾るべく、都会で成功を収めた。

He achieved success in the city in order to return home in glory.

Using 'beku' (in order to - formal).

故郷の伝統を守ることは、私たちの義務だ。

Protecting the traditions of our hometown is our duty.

Nominalized verb phrase as a subject.

震災で故郷を失った人々の悲しみは計り知れない。

The sadness of people who lost their hometowns in the earthquake is immeasurable.

Relative clause modifying 'hitobito'.

故郷の特産品を全国に広めたいと考えています。

I am thinking of spreading my hometown's local specialties nationwide.

Volitional + to kangaete iru.

変わりゆく故郷の姿を、カメラに収め続けた。

I continued to capture the changing face of my hometown on camera.

V-masu stem + tsuzukeru (continue to V).

故郷の空気を吸うだけで、疲れが吹き飛びます。

Just breathing the air of my hometown makes my fatigue fly away.

V-u dake de (just by V-ing).

彼は故郷を捨てて、海外で新しい人生を始めた。

He abandoned his hometown and started a new life abroad.

Using 'suteru' (abandon) for strong nuance.

石川啄木の詩には、故郷への複雑な想いが綴られている。

Ishikawa Takuboku's poems express complex feelings toward his hometown.

Passive voice 'tsuzurarete iru'.

故郷という概念は、近代化の過程で再構築されたものだ。

The concept of 'furusato' was reconstructed during the process of modernization.

Abstract noun + to iu gainen.

グローバル化が進む中、故郷のアイデンティティが問われている。

Amid advancing globalization, the identity of the hometown is being questioned.

N + ga towareru (is being questioned).

故郷を離れて久しいが、あの川のせせらぎは今も耳に残っている。

It has been long since I left my hometown, but the murmur of that river still remains in my ears.

V-te hisashii (it's been a long time since V).

彼は故郷の衰退を嘆き、地域活性化に身を投じた。

Lamenting the decline of his hometown, he threw himself into regional revitalization.

V-masu stem as a conjunction.

「故郷」という言葉が持つ情緒的な響きは、日本人特有のものかもしれない。

The emotional resonance held by the word 'furusato' might be unique to the Japanese.

Relative clause with 'motsu'.

異郷の地にあって、故郷の便りほど嬉しいものはない。

In a foreign land, nothing is more joyful than news from one's hometown.

N-hodo ... mono wa nai (nothing is as ... as N).

故郷は、遠きにありて思うものだと言われる。

It is said that one's hometown is something to be thought of from afar.

Classical Japanese 'arite' (being).

故郷喪失の痛みを抱えながら、漂泊の旅を続ける作家も少なくない。

Not a few writers continue their wanderings while carrying the pain of losing their hometown.

N + soushitsu (loss of N).

原風景としての故郷が、都市化の波に飲み込まれて久しい。

The hometown as a primal landscape was swallowed by the wave of urbanization long ago.

Metaphorical use of 'nomikomareru'.

故郷回帰の念は、単なる懐古趣味を超えた実存的な希求である。

The desire to return to one's hometown is an existential longing that transcends mere nostalgia.

Formal academic vocabulary.

柳田國男の民俗学において、故郷は日本人の精神的基層を成す場であった。

In Kunio Yanagita's folklore studies, the hometown was the place that formed the spiritual foundation of the Japanese.

Specific academic reference.

デジタル・ノマドにとって、故郷という物理的制約はもはや意味をなさない。

For digital nomads, the physical constraint of a 'hometown' no longer makes sense.

N + to iu seiyaku (constraint called N).

文学における故郷は、しばしば母胎への回帰願望の象徴として描かれる。

Hometown in literature is often depicted as a symbol of the desire to return to the womb.

Passive 'egakareru'.

故郷を美化しすぎることは、現実の地方が抱える問題を不可視化する恐れがある。

Over-idealizing the hometown risks making the real problems of rural areas invisible.

N + o fukashika suru (to make N invisible).

故郷の土を踏むその瞬間、彼はようやく自己のアイデンティティを回復した。

The moment he stepped on the soil of his hometown, he finally recovered his identity.

N + o fumu (to step on N).

Common Collocations

故郷に帰る

故郷を離れる

故郷を思い出す

故郷の味

第二の故郷

故郷を捨てる

故郷の空

故郷の英雄

故郷を懐かしむ

故郷喪失

Common Phrases

故郷に錦を飾る

— To return home in glory after achieving great success elsewhere.

彼は金メダルを持って故郷に錦を飾った。

故郷忘じ難し

— It is hard to forget one's hometown, no matter where one goes.

年を取るにつれ、故郷忘じ難しの念が強まる。

故郷の山河

— The mountains and rivers of one's hometown; representing the landscape.

故郷の山河は今も変わらない。

心の故郷

— The home of one's heart; a place where one feels spiritually at peace.

私にとって、この古い寺は心の故郷です。

故郷の便り

— News or a letter from one's hometown.

故郷の便りを聞いて安心した。

故郷を背にする

— To turn one's back on one's hometown (often for a long journey).

彼は決意を胸に、故郷を背にした。

故郷の土

— The soil of one's hometown; often used to mean returning home to die.

最後は故郷の土に帰りたい。

故郷の友

— Childhood friends from one's hometown.

故郷の友と旧交を温める。

故郷への想い

— One's feelings or thoughts toward their hometown.

故郷への想いを詩に託す。

故郷自慢

— Boasting about one's hometown.

彼は会うたびに故郷自慢をする。

Often Confused With

故郷 vs 地元 (Jimoto)

Jimoto is the local area; Kokyou is the place of origin. Jimoto is more casual.

故郷 vs 実家 (Jikka)

Jikka is specifically the parents' house; Kokyou is the entire town or region.

故郷 vs 出身地 (Shusshinchi)

Shusshinchi is a factual administrative term; Kokyou is emotional and broader.

Idioms & Expressions

"故郷に錦を飾る"

— Returning home in success, like wearing fine brocade.

いつか成功して故郷に錦を飾りたい。

Formal/Idiomatic

"故郷忘じ難し"

— The feeling of being unable to forget one's home.

故郷忘じ難しと言うが、本当にその通りだ。

Literary

"狐は死して首を丘に正す"

— Even a fox turns its head toward its home hill when dying; humans never forget their roots.

故郷への思いは、狐は死して首を丘に正すの類だ。

Archaic

"故郷の山はありがたきかな"

— How thankful one is for the mountains of one's hometown.

故郷の山はありがたきかな、と彼は呟いた。

Poetic

"他郷も住めば故郷"

— If you live in a strange land long enough, it becomes your hometown.

他郷も住めば故郷というし、ここでの生活に慣れよう。

Proverb

"故郷の土になる"

— To die and be buried in one's hometown.

彼は故郷の土になることを願っていた。

Literary

"故郷の空を仰ぐ"

— To look up at the sky of one's hometown (feeling nostalgic).

旅先で故郷の空を仰いだ。

Poetic

"故郷へ帰る道は遠い"

— The road back home is long (often metaphorical for loss of innocence).

一度罪を犯せば、故郷へ帰る道は遠い。

Metaphorical

"故郷の風"

— The breeze of one's hometown; a sense of familiarity.

故郷の風に吹かれて、心が落ち着いた。

Poetic

"故郷を夢に見る"

— To dream of one's hometown.

昨夜は故郷を夢に見た。

Neutral

Easily Confused

故郷 vs 家 (Ie)

Both translate to 'home' in English.

Ie is the building; Kokyou is the hometown region.

家を建てる (Build a house) vs 故郷を思う (Think of one's hometown).

故郷 vs 国 (Kuni)

In older Japanese, 'kuni' meant one's province or hometown.

Today 'kuni' usually means 'country,' while 'kokyou' remains 'hometown.'

お国はどちらですか？ (Where is your hometown? - Polite/Old-fashioned).

故郷 vs 郷里 (Kyouri)

They are near-synonyms.

Kyouri is more formal and slightly dated compared to Kokyou.

郷里に帰る。

故郷 vs 里 (Sato)

Both refer to a village.

Sato is more poetic and often refers to the countryside specifically.

里帰り。

故郷 vs 地元 (Jimoto)

Used interchangeably in casual English.

Jimoto refers to the current local area or where you are 'from' in a practical sense.

地元のスーパー。

Sentence Patterns

私の故郷は [Place] です。

私の故郷はロンドンです。

故郷に [Verb-masu] に行きます。

故郷に家族に会いに行きます。

故郷を思い出すと、[Emotion] になります。

故郷を思い出すと、幸せな気持ちになります。

[Place] は、私にとって第二の故郷です。

東京は、私にとって第二の故郷です。

故郷を離れて [Time] になるが、[Memory]。

故郷を離れて二十年になるが、あの景色は忘れない。

故郷という存在が、自己の根幹を成している。

故郷という存在が、彼の自己の根幹を成している。

故郷の [Noun] は [Adjective] です。

故郷の海はとてもきれいです。

故郷に帰るたびに、[Change]。

故郷に帰るたびに、懐かしさを感じます。

Word Family

Nouns

郷里 (Kyouri)

郷愁 (Kyoushuu - Nostalgia)

同郷 (Doukyou - Being from the same hometown)

Verbs

郷に入っては郷に従え (Go ni itte wa... - When in Rome...)

里帰りする (Satogaeri suru)

Adjectives

懐かしい (Natsukashii)

恋しい (Koishii)

出身 (Shusshin)

地元 (Jimoto)

田舎 (Inaka)

実家 (Jikka)

産土 (Ubusuna)

How to Use It

frequency

High, especially during holiday seasons (Obon, New Year).

Common Mistakes

Using 故郷 to mean 'my house'. → うち / 家
故郷 is a town or region, not a single building.
Saying '故郷する'. → 故郷に帰る / 帰省する
故郷 is not a suru-verb.
Pronouncing it 'kokyo'. → kokyou
The long vowel at the end is essential for correct Japanese pronunciation.
Using 'furusato' in a formal business email. → 故郷 (kokyou) / 出身地
Furusato is too emotional/casual for formal business writing.
Confusing 故郷 with 故人 (kojin). → 故郷
While both start with 故 (old/former), 故人 means a deceased person.

Tips

Obon Season

August is the peak time for '故郷に帰る.' Trains and highways are packed as everyone returns home to visit family graves.

Jimoto vs Kokyou

If you're talking about your local high school friends, say '地元の友達.' If you're writing a deep letter about your roots, use '故郷'.

Kanji Tip

The kanji 郷 also appears in '影響' (eikyou - influence). Think of it as the 'village' that influences who you are.

Learn the Song

Learning the lyrics to the song 'Furusato' is a great way to understand the emotional imagery associated with this word.

Particle Choice

Use 'ni' or 'e' for returning to a hometown, and 'de' for doing something (like eating or playing) in the hometown.

Gift Giving

When you return from your 故郷, it is customary to bring 'omiyage' (souvenirs) from that region to your coworkers.

Furigana Check

In novels, you might see 故郷 with 'furusato' written in small kana above it, even though the standard reading is 'kokyou'.

Old Roots

The 'ko' in kokyou is the same as in 'koto' (ancient city like Kyoto/Nara). It emphasizes the past.

Second Home

Don't be afraid to call your study abroad city your '第二の故郷.' Japanese people find it very touching!

Dialects

故郷 is often associated with 'hougen' (dialects). Hearing a dialect can trigger '故郷を思い出す'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'KO' as 'Old' (like a fossil) and 'KYOU' as the 'Village' (Kyoto is a famous city/village). So, your 'Old Village' is your hometown.

Visual Association

Imagine an old wooden sign pointing toward a small village with a mountain behind it. The sign has the kanji 故郷 on it.

Word Web

Mountains Rivers Parents Childhood Nostalgia Traditional Food Obon New Year

Challenge

Try to write three sentences about what you miss most about your 故郷 using the grammar '~ga koishii' (I miss ~).

Word Origin

Derived from Middle Chinese, the term combines 故 (old/former) and 郷 (village/district). It entered Japanese as a Sino-Japanese word (kango).

Original meaning: The village where one formerly resided or where one's ancestors came from.

Sino-Japanese (Kango)

Cultural Context

Be sensitive when asking about 故郷 to those who may have lost theirs due to natural disasters (like the 2011 earthquake) or family issues.

While 'hometown' in English is often just a fact, 故郷 in Japanese carries a weight similar to 'motherland' or 'the old country' but on a local scale.

The children's song 'Furusato' (Rabbit chasing on that mountain...) Ishikawa Takuboku's poetry about his hometown in Iwate. The movie 'Always: Sunset on Third Street' which evokes furusato nostalgia.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Self-Introduction

私の故郷は～です。
故郷は～で有名です。
故郷から来ました。
故郷を紹介します。

Holiday Planning

故郷に帰省します。
故郷でゆっくりします。
故郷の家族に会います。
故郷のお土産を買います。

Nostalgic Conversation

故郷が懐かしいです。
故郷の味が恋しいです。
故郷を思い出します。
故郷の友達はどうしてるかな。

Formal Speech

故郷の皆様に感謝します。
故郷の発展を祈ります。
故郷を離れて幾年月。
故郷の誇りを胸に。

News/Social Issues

故郷の過疎化問題。
故郷へのUターン現象。
故郷納税の仕組み。
故郷の再生計画。

Conversation Starters

"あなたの故郷はどんなところですか？ (What is your hometown like?)"

"故郷で一番有名な食べ物は何ですか？ (What is the most famous food in your hometown?)"

"最近、故郷に帰りましたか？ (Have you returned to your hometown recently?)"

"故郷の好きなところを教えてください。 (Please tell me what you like about your hometown.)"

"いつか故郷に帰って住みたいですか？ (Do you want to live in your hometown again someday?)"

Journal Prompts

私の故郷についての思い出。 (Memories of my hometown.)

十年後の故郷はどうなっていると思いますか？ (What do you think your hometown will be like in ten years?)

私にとっての「第二の故郷」はどこですか？ (Where is my 'second hometown'?)

故郷を離れて気づいたこと。 (Things I realized after leaving my hometown.)

故郷の友達に伝えたいメッセージ。 (A message I want to send to my friends back home.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Usually no, unless you were also born and raised there. If you moved to a city recently, call it your 'current residence' (現住所) or 'local area' (地元), not your '故郷'.

Use 'kokyou' for general speaking and 'furusato' when you want to sound more emotional or when referring to the famous song. In daily speech, 'jimoto' is often the most natural choice.

It means 'second hometown.' It's a place you weren't born in but where you've lived for a long time and feel a strong emotional connection to.

Sometimes, in a poetic sense ('my motherland'), but usually it refers to a specific city, town, or village within a country.

While '故郷はどこですか？' is okay, 'ご出身はどちらですか？' (Go-shusshin wa dochira desu ka?) is much more common and polite in social situations.

The 'Furusato Nozei' system uses the word to appeal to people's nostalgia and desire to support their original hometowns or rural areas in general.

No. It is purely a noun. To say 'return to hometown,' use the phrase '故郷に帰る' or the noun-verb '帰省する'.

Not necessarily, but it has a strong rural connotation. Even someone from Tokyo might use it, but the word often evokes images of nature.

The most direct opposite is '異郷' (ikyou), meaning a foreign or strange land.

No, it extends the 'o' sound. It should be pronounced as a long 'o' (ko-kyo-o).