国家
Traditional: 國家
guó jiā HSK 3

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

中国是一个国家。
Zhōngguó shì yī gè guójiā.
China is a country.
我爱我的国家。
Wǒ ài wǒ de guójiā.
I love my country.
这个国家很大。
Zhège guójiā hěn dà.
This country is very big.
我爱我的国家。
Wǒ ài wǒ de guójiā.
I love my country.
这个国家很大。
Zhège guójiā hěn dà.
This country is very big.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 国家 as combining 国 (state) and 家 (home) – a 'state-home' or the home of a nation. Imagine a country as a big family home to help remember its meaning of 'country' or 'nation'.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and used in both spoken and written Chinese across various contexts, such as politics, geography, history, and news. It is commonly employed when discussing a nation's attributes, like its economy, culture, or policies.

📖 Grammar Points

国家 can function as a subject, object, or modifier in sentences. It is often modified by adjectives (e.g., 强大的国家 - powerful country) or used with 的 to indicate possession (e.g., 国家的利益 - the country's interests). It is commonly paired with verbs like 建设 (build), 保护 (protect), or 代表 (represent).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 国家 traditionally reflects the Confucian idea of the state as an extension of the family, emphasizing unity and collective identity. It is a central concept in discussions of patriotism and national rejuvenation, often highlighted in official discourse.

🔄 Similar Words

国家 emphasizes the political and territorial entity of a country. 国 (guó) is a shorter, more literary form often used in compounds (e.g., 中国). 祖国 (zǔguó) means 'motherland' and carries emotional, patriotic connotations. 民族 (mínzú) refers to an ethnic group or nationality, not the political state.

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