中国
Chūgokunoun★Beginner
formal
China (the country)
私は中国に行ったことがあります。
I have been to China.
💡
Refers to the People's Republic of China (PRC).
political
Mainland China (as opposed to Taiwan or Hong Kong)
中国と台湾の関係は複雑です。
The relationship between China and Taiwan is complex.
Collocations
中国語Chinese language中国人Chinese person中国料理Chinese cuisine
Synonyms
Related Phrases
中国の首都phrase
the capital of China
💡Pro Tip
Political Context
Be mindful of the political sensitivity when discussing China, especially in international or formal settings.
⚡Gold Rule
Geographical Clarity
When referring to the country, '中国' is unambiguous. For regions, use '中国本土' (mainland China) or '中国大陸' (mainland China).
📖Word Origin
Composed of '中' (middle, center) and '国' (country), reflecting China's historical self-perception as the central civilization.
📝Usage Notes
In formal contexts, '中国' refers to the PRC. In historical or cultural contexts, it may refer to the broader Chinese civilization.
Word Breakdown
中
middle, center
root国
country
root和英辞典