country

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 国 means country; its on-reading is こく and its kun-reading is くに.
• Basic usage: 国(くに) means a country, while 外国(がいこく) means a foreign country.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Returning home and a book set abroad
  • 国へ帰った can mean that someone returned to their homeland. In a scene of returning after a long journey, it refers to the country they belong to.
  • 外国を舞台にした本 means a book set in a foreign country.