Chinese word

中国

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhōng guó

Meaning

  • nounChina

Example

中国人口很多。zhōng guó rén kǒu hěn duō

China has a large population.

Illustration for 中国 (China)

More examples

他是中国人。tā shì zhōng guó rén

He is Chinese.

Core concept

A vast country understood as a central land with many communities and a long history.

Common phrases

  • 来中国lái zhōng guó

    come to China

  • 在中国zài zhōng guó

    be in China

  • 中国人zhōng guó rén

    Chinese person

Similar words

国guó: A country with its own territory and government.
中国人zhōng guó rén: A person from China or a Chinese citizen.
中文zhōng wén: The Chinese language, especially in writing or language study.

Definition in Chinese

通常指中华人民共和国，是一个幅员辽阔、人口众多、由多民族组成且历史悠久的国家。tōng cháng zhǐ zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó shì yí gè fú yuán liáo kuò rén kǒu zhòng duō yóu duō mín zú zǔ chéng qiě lì shǐ yōu jiǔ de guó jiā

Word origin

中国 (zhōngguó, "China") combines 中 (zhōng, "middle") and 国 (guó, "state"), linking the modern name to the idea of central lands in early Chinese history.

Usage tips

  • 中国 (zhōngguó, "China") comes before a noun in compounds such as 中国菜 (zhōngguócài, "Chinese food") and 中国学校 (zhōngguóxuéxiào, "Chinese school"), much like a describing word in English.

Opposites

Related words

  • 中国人zhōng guó rénChinese personnoun

Word lists with this word