国民

• Pinyin: guó mín
• Hanzi breakdown: 国 = country/nation; 民 = people

Meaning

National; citizen. The people belonging to a nation.

Formal term referring to all citizens of a country collectively. Often used in official, political, and economic contexts. Common in terms like 国民经济 (national economy).

Examples

1. 政府应该保障国民的基本权利。 The government should protect the basic rights of its citizens.
2. 国民经济发展关系到每个人的生活。 National economic development affects everyone's life.
3. 全体国民都有选举权。 All citizens have the right to vote.

Usage Guide

Context: political, official, economic, legal

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 国民收入提高了。(National income has increased.)
• 作为国民，我们有责任。(As citizens, we have responsibilities.)

Don't Say

• 我是一个国民 in casual conversation (too formal — say 公民 or just 中国人/美国人 etc.)

Origin & History

Compound of 国 (country, nation) + 民 (people), referring to the people of a nation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal