帰国子女（きこくしじょ、kikokushijo）
- returnee child

The Japanese word 帰国子女 (きこくしじょ) refers to a child who has lived abroad with their parents and has returned to their home country (usually Japan) to live and study. The term specifically applies to children who have experienced significant periods of residence in a foreign country due to their parents' work, studies, or other reasons. These children often have a strong foundation in a foreign language and may be familiar with different cultures and lifestyles. They may also face unique challenges when integrating back into their home country's society and education system. The word 帰国子女 is the Japanese term for “children who have returned to their home country”.

⚫︎ 彼女は帰国子女なので、英語がペラペラです。 Translation: She is a 帰国子女, so she speaks fluent English. ⚫︎ 帰国子女のための特別な教育プログラムがあります。 Translation: There are special educational programs for 帰国子女. ⚫︎ 彼は海外生活が長かった帰国子女です。 Translation: He is a 帰国子女 who lived abroad for a long time.

This word is used to describe a child who has lived abroad and returned to their home country. It can be used in various contexts, such as when discussing their educational background, language skills, cultural experiences, or the challenges they face. It's often used in formal and informal conversations, news reports, and academic discussions. It is also often used as an adjective modifying a noun, such as 帰国子女向け (for 帰国子女), or 帰国子女枠 (帰国子女 admissions).

The word is typically written in kanji as 帰国子女 and pronounced きこくしじょ. The word consists of the following: 帰国 (きこく), meaning "returning to one's country," and 子女 (しじょ), meaning "children" or "sons and daughters." There are no significant variations in the okurigana. The term is also sometimes used in the abbreviated form of 帰国生 (きこくせい), meaning “returned student”.

While there isn't a direct synonym, some related terms include: ⚫︎ 帰国生 (きこくせい): A returned student. ⚫︎ 海外子女 (かいがいしじょ): Children living overseas (this is not a direct synonym but a related concept).

There is no direct antonym. However, someone who has never lived abroad and has only lived in their home country would be the opposite.

彼は帰国子女なので、日本の学校生活に慣れるのに少し時間がかかりました。 ・Translation: He is a 帰国子女, so it took him a little time to get used to school life in Japan. ・Explanation: This sentence describes a 帰国子女 and highlights a common experience of adjustment.

帰国子女は、国際的な視点を持っていることが多いです。 ・Translation: 帰国子女 often have an international perspective. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights a common characteristic associated with 帰国子女.

The word is a combination of 帰国 ("returning to one's country") and 子女 ("children"). It directly describes the situation of children who have returned to their home country after a period of living abroad.