Learn a Chinese Character - 国

1. Character Basics

Radical: 口/kǒu (mouth), 玉/yù (jade)

Stroke Count: 8 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Guó (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: Country; nation; state

Extended Meaning: Land; territory; region; homeland

Additional Meaning: Used in various idioms and expressions related to nationhood or sovereignty

4. Common Words

• 国家 (guó jiā) - Country; nation

  中国是一个伟大的国家。(Zhōng guó shì yī gè wěi dà de guó jiā.)

  China is a great country.

• 中国 (zhōng guó) - China

  我来自中国。(Wǒ lái zì zhōng guó.)

  I come from China.

• 国际 (guó jì) - International

  这是一个国际会议。(Zhè shì yī gè guó jì huì yì.)

  This is an international conference.

• 国旗 (guó qí) - National flag

  升国旗仪式很庄严。(Shēng guó qí yí shì hěn zhuāng yán.)

  The flag-raising ceremony is very solemn.

• 国王 (guó wáng) - King

  他是这个国家的国王。(Tā shì zhè gè guó jiā de guó wáng.)

  He is the king of this country.

5. Grammar & Usage

As a Noun:

• Used to refer to a country, nation, or state.
• Can be used alone but is more commonly combined with other characters.

Common Structures:

• 国 + [noun]: 国家 (guó jiā - country), 国旗 (guó qí - national flag)
• [adjective] + 国: 强国 (qiáng guó - powerful country), 大国 (dà guó - large country)
• [noun] + 国: 中国 (zhōng guó - China), 美国 (měi guó - United States)

Collocations:

• 为国效力 (wèi guó xiào lì) - To serve one's country
• 爱国主义 (ài guó zhǔ yì) - Patriotism
• 国富民强 (guó fù mín qiáng) - The country is prosperous and the people are strong

6. Cultural Background

The character "国" (guó) carries profound cultural significance in Chinese civilization. Originally, it depicted a walled city with a jade (玉/yù) inside, symbolizing the precious center of a kingdom or state.

In traditional Chinese thought, the concept of "国" (country/nation) is closely linked with "家" (family/home), forming the well-known expression "国家" (guó jiā - country), emphasizing the interconnectedness of family and nation.

Throughout Chinese history, the idea of a unified country has been highly valued. The character has been used in many important contexts, including:

• The name of China itself: "中国" (Zhōng guó - Middle Kingdom)
• Key philosophical concepts like "天下大同" (tiān xià dà tóng - world harmony)
• Important national symbols such as the "国旗" (guó qí - national flag) and "国歌" (guó gē - national anthem)

The character also appears in many idioms that reflect Chinese cultural values, such as "国泰民安" (guó tài mín ān - the country is prosperous and the people are at peace) and "精忠报国" (jīng zhōng bào guó - absolute loyalty to one's country).

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Break it down: The character "国" consists of two parts - "口" (kǒu, mouth/enclosure) on the outside representing a walled city, and "玉" (yù, jade) on the inside representing something precious at the center.
2. Story mnemonic: Imagine a walled city (口) that protects a valuable jade (玉) treasure inside - this is a "country" where something precious is protected.
3. Stroke order: Remember the stroke sequence: 竖 (shù), 横折 (héng zhé), 横 (héng), 横 (héng), 竖 (shù), 横 (héng), 点 (diǎn), 横 (héng).
4. Associate with common words: Connect "国" with words you know like "中国" (Zhōng guó - China) or "国家" (guó jiā - country) to reinforce your memory.
5. Cultural connection: Remember that "国" represents not just a geographical entity but also carries deep cultural significance about unity and protection.