Chinese · Culture & Society
国家
guójiā
Country
Beginnernoun
Definition
A nation with its own government and territory.
Example
中国是一个很大的国家。
China is a very big country.
Etymology
'国家' (guójiā) combines '国' (guó), meaning 'country' or 'nation,' and '家' (jiā), meaning 'home' or 'family.' This reflects the idea of a nation as a shared community.
How & Where It’s Used
'国家' is used in formal contexts such as politics and discussions regarding nationhood, but it also appears in informal conversations about homeland and identity.