同胞
tóng bāo HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

两岸同胞应该互相帮助。
Liǎng'àn tóngbāo yīnggāi hùxiāng bāngzhù.
Compatriots on both sides of the strait should help each other.
我的同胞兄弟住在国外。
Wǒ de tóngbāo xiōngdì zhù zài guówài.
My sibling brother lives abroad.
海外同胞心系祖国的发展。
Hǎiwài tóngbāo xīn xì zǔguó de fāzhǎn.
Overseas compatriots care about the development of the motherland.
他是我的同胞。
Tā shì wǒ de tóngbāo.
He is my compatriot.
我们帮助同胞。
Wǒmen bāngzhù tóngbāo.
We help our compatriots.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 同 (tóng) means 'same' and 胞 (bāo) comes from 胞胎 (bāotāi), meaning 'womb'. So, it means 'from the same womb' → siblings → compatriots. Think of it as sharing the same 'motherland' as a womb.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is formal and is used in both written and spoken contexts, though more common in formal speech, news, and official discourse. It is typically used to refer to fellow citizens of the same country, especially in contexts of national unity, solidarity, or when discussing people from the same ethnic group (e.g., 台湾同胞 - compatriots in Taiwan).

📖 Grammar Points

Primarily used as a noun, often modified by other nouns (e.g., 海外同胞) or pronouns (e.g., 我们的同胞). It can be the subject or object in a sentence.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese political and social discourse, 同胞 is a powerful term used to emphasize unity and shared destiny among all Chinese people, including those in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. It evokes a sense of familial obligation and mutual support.

🔄 Similar Words

同胞 vs. 兄弟/姐妹: 兄弟/姐妹 specifically means 'brother/sister' (can be literal or metaphorical for close friends). 同胞 is broader, emphasizing shared origin and can refer to a large collective like a nation. vs. 国民/公民: 国民/公民 means 'citizen' in a legal/political sense, while 同胞 carries a stronger emotional and cultural connotation of shared heritage.

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