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国度 (guó dù) — country, nation (formal/literary tone)

Definition

Literary/formal word for 'country' or 'nation', usually in writing or elevated speech. More formal than 国家; often evokes a cultural or historical sense, not just political borders.

noun
countrynation (formal/literary tone)

Examples

  • 国度，。
    Zài zhè ge guó dù lǐ, měi gè rén dōu néng zì yóu biǎo dá guān diǎn.
    In this country, everyone can freely express their views.
  • 国度，。
    Tā xiě shī zàn měi zì jǐ de guó dù, yǔ yán fēi cháng yōu měi.
    He wrote poems praising his country, with very beautiful language.
  • 国度。
    Nà ge gǔ lǎo de guó dù yōng yǒu yōu jiǔ de lì shǐ hé càn làn de wén huà.
    That ancient nation has a long history and a splendid culture.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 國; 国 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
囗囗wéiclosure
Sound part声符shēngfú
或
或huò國guó
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 國 uses 囗 to show closure and 或 to give the sound.

Open 国 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
石
石shí度dù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.

Open 度 →
Appears in
Government & Politics

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