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国民 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
国民guómínnationalsHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #6873, Very Hard
国民guómíncitizensHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #6873, Very Hard
国民guómínpeople of a nationHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #6873, Very Hard
guómín(guo2min2)guo min T2
  1. 1nationals
  2. 2citizens
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March 24, 2026

国民(國民)guómín(guo2min2)

国民 (guó mín) refers to the citizens or nationals of a country. It is commonly used when discussing national identity, rights, and responsibilities within the context of a nation-state. This term emphasizes the collective aspect of a country's inhabitants, distinguishing them from foreigners.

Strokes13Frequency#6873DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The concept of 国民 is closely tied to the notion of national identity in China, especially in discussions about citizenship and patriotism. It reflects the importance of belonging to a nation and the collective responsibility of its citizens.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large group of people (民) standing under the flag of their country (国) singing their national anthem. The '国' represents the nation, while '民' represents its people, making it easy to remember that 国民 means 'nation's people' or 'citizens'.

Meanings of 国民

guómín(guo2min2)
1nationals
2citizens
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 国民

国民Simplified
國民Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 国民

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Podcast: 国民

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AI Study Notes for 国民

Quick Contrast

公民 (gōngmín) refers specifically to citizens with legal rights and responsibilities, while 国民 (guómín) encompasses all nationals, including those without full citizenship rights.

Usage Notes

This term is often used in formal contexts, such as legal discussions or national policies. A common mistake is to confuse it with '人民' (rén mín), which emphasizes the common people rather than citizens as a whole. Be mindful of the tone; both characters are second tone and second tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 国民 is not specifically an HSK term, it relates to the themes of identity and politics often encountered in HSK Level 4 and above. When studying this word, focus on its usage in political contexts and its relation to other terms like '国家' (guó jiā, country) and '公民' (gōng mín, citizen).

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 国民 to refer to individuals rather than the collective. For example, saying '我是国民' ('I am a national') is technically correct, but it is more common to say '我是中国公民' ('I am a Chinese citizen').

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 国民

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Component Characters

国guócountry
HSK 18 strokes囗
View full entry
民mínthe people
HSK 45 strokes民
View full entry

How to say nationals in Chinese

“nationals” in Chinese is国民guómín

国民 (guó mín) refers to the citizens or nationals of a country. It is commonly used when discussing national identity, rights, and responsibilities within the context of a nation-state. This term emphasizes the collective aspect of a country's inhabitants, distinguishing them from foreigners.

When to use 国民

This term is often used in formal contexts, such as legal discussions or national policies. A common mistake is to confuse it with '人民' (rén mín), which emphasizes the common people rather than citizens as a whole. Be mindful of the tone; both characters are second tone and second tone.

国民 or something close to it

公民 (gōngmín) refers specifically to citizens with legal rights and responsibilities, while 国民 (guómín) encompasses all nationals, including those without full citizenship rights.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 国民 to refer to individuals rather than the collective. For example, saying '我是国民' ('I am a national') is technically correct, but it is more common to say '我是中国公民' ('I am a Chinese citizen').

Write 国民

国
民

Practice writing 国民 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 国民

国民 refers to the people of a nation, emphasizing nationality, while 公民 focuses on the legal status of citizens and their rights.

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