国 guó
“country; nation; state; (bound form) national”
noun2021 list level 1Traditional 國Measure word 个
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
国 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 66: 国 guó — Level 1; official annotation 1 (名). PDF page 81
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 国
国 (guó) is a bound noun meaning country or nation, commonly used in country names and compounds such as 中国, 美国, 外国 and 国王. It is not normally used alone as a free noun; use 国家 when you need the full noun 'country'. The surname 国 is read Guó and is separate from these everyday uses.
例句Example sentences
- 我是中国人。wǒ shì zhōng guó rén.I am Chinese.
- 中国有很多城市。zhōng guó yǒu hěn duō chéng shì.China has many cities.
- 外国朋友也喜欢中国菜。wài guó péng you yě xǐ huan zhōng guó cài.Foreign friends also like Chinese food.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我是中国。
✓我是中国人。
To state nationality, use the country name plus 人; 中国 alone means 'China', not 'Chinese person'.
易混词Easily confused
国vs国家
国家 is the standalone noun for 'country' or 'state', while 国 is mostly a bound form used in compounds and country names. Say 国家很大, not 国很大.
义项All meanings
- Guó: surname Guo
- guó: country; nation; state; (bound form) national