(guó jì) - international, international affairs in Mandarin
guójìTraditional: 國際
Translation
international, international affairs
Word origin
Literally between countries, from 国 (guó, country) and 际 (jì, boundary, edge). Coined in Meiji Japan as kokusai to render the English word international and borrowed back into Chinese.
- Origin
- compound, via Japanese
- Root
- 国 (guó, country) + 际 (jì, boundary, between)
Stroke order
国
际
Examples
。
This is an international company.
。
Shanghai has a very large international airport.
。
He is studying international relations.
。
The issue has attracted international attention.
。
Prices on the international market have changed.
国际 (guó jì) covers everything that happens between countries: 国际机场 for an international airport, 国际关系 for international relations, 国际市场 for the world market.
It looks like an adjective in English, and that is where learners come unstuck. In Chinese it behaves as a noun sitting in front of another noun, so you cannot say 很国际 the way you say 很大. If you need the predicate, rebuild the sentence: 这家公司是国际的 or, better, 这是一家国际公司.
Keep it apart from 世界, which means the world as a place, and from 全国, which means nationwide. 国际 always implies more than one country in the frame.
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国际: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "国际" (international, international affairs): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 51.