nation
nation — noun
1. A country regarded as a body of citizens sharing the same government, cultural t
A country regarded as a body of citizens sharing the same government, cultural traditions, and historical roots within a fixed territory.
The president addressed the nation from the capital, asking citizens to stay united.
collocation: address the nation
After the floods, the whole nation raised money to support the affected families.
collocation: the whole nation + collective action
Isabela learned about the history of her nation by visiting the national museum in Lima.
The two nations signed a peace agreement after years of conflict along the border.
Layla's grandfather fought for the nation's independence and lived to see it achieved.
- foreign country
a different nation from the one being referred to
文法句型
the whole + nation (collective)
the [adjective] nation
the nation + [singular/plural verb]
用法筆記
The most common sense of nation. Frequently used with the whole + nation ('the whole nation celebrated'). Takes a singular verb when treated as a unit ('the nation is divided') or a plural verb when emphasising individual people ('the nation are united in their grief').
常見錯誤
2. Any sizeable community whose members share a common ethnic origin, language, and
Any sizeable community whose members share a common ethnic origin, language, and cultural heritage, even if they are spread across different countries.
The Kurdish nation stretches across several Middle Eastern countries, each with its own government.
collocation: nation stretches across [countries]
Hari's nation has kept its language alive for more than a thousand years.
pattern: one's nation has kept [something] alive
Members of the Rohingya nation have faced statelessness for generations in Southeast Asia.
The Basque nation speaks a language unrelated to any other European tongue.
- people
less formal and broader; 'a people' means a group sharing identity
- ethnic group
more academic, emphasises cultural and ancestral ties
- race
dated or controversial; now avoided in precise writing
文法句型
the [ethnic adjective] nation
a nation of [people]
nation without a state
用法筆記
This sense focuses on cultural and ethnic bonds rather than political borders. The group may be spread across multiple countries or have no independent state. Common in academic and political writing about minority groups and stateless peoples.
常見錯誤
3. A self-governing community of Indigenous peoples, such as a Native American trib
A self-governing community of Indigenous peoples, such as a Native American tribe or a union of several tribes, that exercises political authority over its members and territory.
The Navajo Nation runs its own government, police force, and schools.
collocation: [Name] Nation has its own [government/institutions]
Delegates from several Indigenous nations met in Ottawa to discuss land rights and water protection.
The Hopi Nation has occupied the same Arizona area for over a thousand years.
Ilàn's grandmother was a respected elder in her Indigenous nation and taught traditional medicine.
- tribe
more specific to kinship structure; less emphasis on sovereignty
- First Nation
Canadian term for Indigenous communities
- people
generic term, avoids political nuance
文法句型
the [Name] Nation
[number] Indigenous nations
[Name] is a nation
用法筆記
Chiefly used for Indigenous peoples in North America. Capitalised when part of a proper name (Navajo Nation, Hopi Nation). The word tribe may refer to a smaller kinship-based unit; nation emphasises political sovereignty and self-government. Also used in Canadian contexts (First Nations).