国旗

• Pinyin: guó qí
• Hanzi breakdown: 国 = 囗 (enclosure) + 玉 (jade); 旗 = 方 (direction) + 其 (phonetic), originally depicting a banner

Meaning

National flag. The official flag representing a nation.

China's national flag is the 五星红旗 (Five-starred Red Flag). Flag-raising ceremonies are held at schools and in Tiananmen Square. Common collocations: 升国旗 (raise the national flag), 降国旗 (lower the flag), 国旗护卫队 (national flag guard). Disrespecting the flag is a criminal offense.

Examples

1. 天安门广场的升旗仪式每天清晨举行，吸引了来自全国各地的游客观看。 The flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square is held every morning, attracting tourists from all over the country.
2. 运动员把国旗披在身上绕场一周，向观众挥手致意。 The athlete draped the national flag over their shoulders and walked around the field, waving to the audience.
3. 教室前面的黑板上方悬挂着国旗，提醒学生热爱祖国。 The national flag hangs above the blackboard at the front of the classroom, reminding students to love their country.

Usage Guide

Context: patriotism, ceremony, education

Tone: solemn

Do Say

• 国旗是国家的象征。(The national flag is a symbol of the country.)
• 升国旗时要肃立敬礼。(Stand solemnly and salute when the flag is raised.)

Don't Say

• 随意把国旗当装饰品 (Don't casually use the national flag as decoration — there are regulations about proper display)

Origin & History

Compound of 国 (country, nation) + 旗 (flag, banner). A straightforward term for the flag representing a nation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal