故郷
ふるさと·furusato
Meaning
hometown; birthplace; home region
Nuance & Usage
故郷 often carries emotional meaning, referring to one's hometown with nostalgia and attachment. It can be more sentimental than simply saying 地元.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 故郷 and 出身 interchangeably. 出身 is factual background, while 故郷 has emotional and cultural nuance.
Example Sentences (3)
夏休みに故郷へ帰ります。
なつやすみにふるさとへかえります。
I will return to my hometown during summer vacation.
故郷の料理を食べると安心します。
ふるさとのりょうりをたべるとあんしんします。
Eating food from my hometown makes me feel at ease.
彼は故郷の祭りを大切にしています。
かれはふるさとのまつりをたいせつにしています。
He treasures the festival of his hometown.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N44 questionsTest your knowledge of 故郷 with 4 different question types.
Want to practice this word?
Add to Fujiyama & Study with AI
Generate more example sentences, listen to native pronunciation, and review with SRS — all personalized to your JLPT level.