愛国者
aikokusha[a̠iko̞kɯ̟ɕa̠]
The English word "patriot" is translated into Japanese as 愛国者 (aikokusha).
愛国者 is used to describe a person who loves, supports and defends their country. It is a common, neutral term used in official contexts.
Meaning: person who loves, supports and defends his country (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 愛国者 refers to a person who is a patriot, the term 愛国主義者 (aikokushugisha) refers to a person who adheres to the ideology of patriotism, such as a nationalist.
How do you pronounce it?
aikokusha
Did you know?
- While 愛国者 is the standard term, the word 志士 (shishi) was historically used to describe patriotic samurai who sought to overthrow the shogunate and restore imperial rule.
- The character 愛 in 愛国者 is the same one used to express romantic love, implying that a patriot 'loves' their country with the same intensity one might love a partner.
- In modern Japanese, the term 愛国者 can carry a heavy political weight depending on the speaker, sometimes being viewed with suspicion due to the country's wartime history.
Examples in context
- 率直に言えば、彼は愛国者というよりはむしろ偽善者だ。Frankly speaking, he is more of a hypocrite than a patriot.This sentence is useful for contrasting the term 愛国者 with the word for hypocrite.Tatoeba #78303 by mookeee, translation #325414 by CM
- 彼は真の 愛国者 です。He is a true patriot.
- 彼は 愛国心の強い人 で、常に国の利益を最優先に考えます。He is a person with a strong sense of patriotism and always prioritizes the country's interests.
- 彼は 愛国志士 として国内外で活動しています。He is active both domestically and internationally as a patriotic enthusiast.
- 愛国者は国を大切に思う。Aikokusha wa kuni o taisetsu ni omou.A patriot cherishes their country.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a historical figure in a cafe.
- 陽葵 Himari彼は偉大な愛国者でしたね。Kare wa idai na aikokusha deshita ne.He was a great patriot, wasn't he?
- 健太 Kentaええ、国の発展に尽くしました。Ee, kuni no hatten ni tsukushimashita.Yes, he dedicated himself to the country's development.
- 陽葵 Himari健太さんもそんな風になりたいですか？Kenta-san mo sonna fuu ni naritai desu ka?Kenta, do you want to be like that too?
- 健太 Kentaはい、国のために貢献したいです。Hai, kuni no tame ni kouken shitai desu.Yes, I want to contribute to my country.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “patriot” translations and entries 愛国者, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
