中国

Chūgoku
nounBeginner
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

middle, center
root
+
country
root
和英辞典