母国語（ぼこくご、bokokugo）
- mother tongue

The Japanese word 母国語, pronounced ぼこくご (bokokugo), directly translates to "mother tongue" or "native language" in English. It refers to the first language a person learns, typically as a child, and the language they are most fluent in and identify with. It's the language of their home and culture. This word emphasizes the language's connection to one's origins and identity.

⚫︎ 私の母国語は日本語です。 Translation: My native language is Japanese. ⚫︎ 彼は母国語で話すとき、とても自然です。 Translation: He is very natural when speaking in his native language. ⚫︎ 外国語を学ぶ前に、まずは母国語をしっかり勉強しましょう。 Translation: Before learning a foreign language, let's first study our native language thoroughly.

You use 母国語 when discussing someone's first language, the language they grew up speaking, or the language they consider their own. It can be used in various contexts, such as when talking about language learning, cultural identity, or personal background. It's suitable for both formal and informal conversations.

母国語 is written using the kanji 母 (ぼ, haha - mother), 国 (こく, kuni - country), and 語 (ご, go - language). It's typically written in kanji, but it can be written in hiragana (ぼこくご) if the writer wishes to emphasize the pronunciation or if the kanji is too difficult for the reader. There are no variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎ ネイティブ (neiteibu) - Native (often used to describe a native speaker) ⚫︎ 第一言語 (daiichigengo) - First language ⚫︎ 自国語 (jikokugo) - One's own country's language (less common, more focused on the national aspect)

⚫︎ 外国語 (gaikokugo) - Foreign language ⚫︎ 第二言語 (dainigengo) - Second language

私は母国語の日本語を話します。 ・Translation: I speak Japanese, my native language. ・Explanation: This sentence clearly states that the speaker's first language is Japanese.

彼は母国語の英語と第二言語のフランス語を話せます。 ・Translation: He speaks English, his native language, and French, his second language. ・Explanation: This sentence compares the speaker's native language with a foreign language he also speaks.

The word 母国語 is a compound word. The kanji 母 (haha) refers to a mother, 国 (kuni) represents a nation or country, and 語 (go) means language. Therefore, 母国語 literally means "mother country language," implying the language of one's origin or home country. It reflects the idea that the first language is learned from one's mother and in the context of the country.