國

Core senses fluctuate between physical territory (the realm/land) and the political entity (the state/government). The term is frequently used as a metonym for the capital city or the royal court.

Primarily a noun; often acts as an attributive modifier for administrative terms (e.g., laws, affairs).

Compared to 邦 (bāng), which can carry archaic connotations of tribal unions or alliances, 國 emphasizes a defined political unit with central authority. Compared to 域 (yù), which is primarily spatial/geographical, 國 adds the layer of political administration and governance. In early philosophical and Confucian texts, 國 often functions as a scalar extension of 家 (jiā), mirroring the transition from the management of the household to the management of the state.

Semantic variant: U+56EF; Simplified variant: U+56FD.

The glyph features an enclosure (囗), denoting a bounded territory or a space defined by a perimeter. Later forms introduce the "jewel" (玉) component, reflecting the conceptualization of the state as a precious asset to be protected.

When a text places an action "in the 國," determine if the scope is the entire realm or merely the seat of power. In philosophical contexts, maintain the conceptual symmetry between 家 (household) and 國 (state) where applicable.