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한국어
국가 — meaning in English: country
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country
태양
taeyang
우선 순위
useon sun
국가
gugga
터널
teoneol
장애
jang
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neutral
common
Usage
Native speakers of Korean often use the word 국가 when discussing topics related to national identity, politics, or geography. For example, in a conversation about the South Korean government's policies, someone might say, '우리 국가의 정책은...' meaning 'Our country's policies are...'. It's also common in formal settings, such as in news reports or academic discussions.
Synonyms & nuances
A close synonym to 국가 is 민족 (minjok), which means 'nation' in terms of ethnic or cultural identity. While 국가 refers more to the political and territorial aspect of a country, 민족 emphasizes the shared heritage and cultural traits of the people within that country. You would choose 국가 when talking about government or borders, but 민족 when discussing cultural unity.
Culture
The word 국가 is derived from the Chinese characters '國家', where '國' means 'nation' or 'country' and '家' signifies 'home' or 'family'. This etymology reflects the deep-rooted concepts of belonging and statehood in Korean culture. Historically, the notion of 국가 has evolved alongside Korea's tumultuous history, from its ancient kingdoms to modern democratic governance, encapsulating the pride and identity of its people.
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