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民国 (Mín guó) — Republic of China (1912-1949)

Definition

民国 refers to the Republic of China era (1912–1949), often used as a historical period marker (e.g. 民国时期). Distinct from 中华民国, the official name of the government on Taiwan.

noun
Republic of China (1912-1949)

Examples

  • 民国。
    Mín guó Shí qī shì zhōng guó wén huà fā zhǎn de zhòng yào jiē duàn.
    The Republic of China period was an important stage in Chinese cultural development.
  • 民国。
    Xǔ duō Mín guó shí qī de jiàn zhù zhì jīn réng rán bǎo liú.
    Many buildings from the Republic of China period are still preserved today.
  • 民国。
    Tā yán jiū Mín guó lì shǐ yǐ jīng èr shí nián le.
    He has been studying Republic of China history for twenty years.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

民mínpeople
国guócountry

“民” means people and “国” means country, giving a people's republic.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The early form of 民 shows an eye pierced by a sharp cross-shaped implement, possibly linked to an injured or unclear eye.

Open 民 →

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 →
Appears in
Government & PoliticsHistory

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