中国
Traditional: 中國
zhōng guó HSK 1

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

这是中国。
Zhè shì Zhōngguó.
This is China.
我爱中国。
Wǒ ài Zhōngguó.
I love China.
他在中国。
Tā zài Zhōngguó.
He is in China.
中国是一个很大的国家。
Zhōngguó shì yīgè hěn dà de guójiā.
China is a very large country.
长城在中国。
Chángchéng zài Zhōngguó.
The Great Wall is in China.

💡 Memory Tip

Break it down: 中 (zhōng) means 'middle' or 'center,' and 国 (guó) means 'country' or 'kingdom.' Think of 'Middle Kingdom' to remember it refers to China.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is used in all contexts—formal and informal, spoken and written. It is the standard term in news, official documents, education, and everyday conversation to refer to the nation of China.

📖 Grammar Points

It functions as a proper noun and is often used as a location noun in sentences (e.g., 在中国, 去中国). It can be modified by other nouns to form compounds (e.g., 中国地图 - map of China).

🏯 Cultural Notes

The name 中国 carries deep historical and cultural significance, stemming from the ancient belief that China was the 'central' civilization surrounded by other states. It remains a powerful symbol of national identity.

🔄 Similar Words

华夏 (Huáxià) is a classical, literary name for China, evoking ancient civilization. 中华 (Zhōnghuá) is a more formal or cultural term, often used in compounds like '中华文化' (Chinese culture) or '中华民族' (Chinese nation). 中国 is the direct, modern term for the country.

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