A national language: the language officially used by a country. In Japan this commonly refers to Japanese.
国語とは、その国で公式に使用される言語を指す。
A national language refers to the language officially used in a country.
日本では国語＝日本語と考えられていることが多い。
In Japan, the national language is often considered to be Japanese.
The subject 'kokugo' (Japanese language) taught in schools in Japan; the academic study of Japanese as a curriculum subject.
小学校の国語の授業では漢字の書き取りや読解を学ぶ。
In elementary school kokugo lessons, students learn kanji writing and reading comprehension.
テストの国語の成績が良かったので嬉しい。
I'm happy because I did well on the kokugo test.
彼女は将来国語の教師になりたいと言っている。
She says she wants to become a kokugo teacher in the future.
One's native language or mother tongue: the first language a person learned and often uses at home.
彼の国語はスペイン語で、家ではいつもスペイン語を話す。
His native language is Spanish; they always speak Spanish at home.
国語が異なる家庭ではバイリンガル教育が行われることがある。
In families with different native languages, bilingual education may be provided.
Sometimes used to mean native Japanese words (wago) as opposed to loanwords and Sino-Japanese vocabulary.
国語には漢語や外来語と区別される和語が多く含まれる。
The national language includes many native Japanese words (wago), distinct from Sino-Japanese and loanwords.
『ありがとう』は国語（和語）の代表的な表現だ。
'Arigatou' is a typical example of a native Japanese word (wago).